Miyu Kato bursts into tears after reaching the semifinals of the French Open after being disqualified
Japanese tennis player Miyu Kato breaks down in tears after reaching the semifinals of the French Open mixed doubles – just a DAY after she was disqualified after hitting a ball girl with a ball in women’s doubles
Tennis star Miyu Kato burst into tears after reaching the mixed doubles semifinal of the French Open on Monday – a day after she was disqualified from women’s doubles for accidentally hitting a ball girl with a ball, causing her to burst into tears.
After Kato booked her place in the final four of mixed doubles at Roland Garros, she struggled to hold back tears before being comforted by her doubles partner Tim Puetz.
It all seemed too much for the Japanese player after her controversial exit the day before.
During her match alongside Aldila Sutjiadi, Kato fired a shot across the court at the ball girl between points, hitting her on the shoulder. Since the young girl was upset, Kato was initially given a warning by the referee.
However, a protest from opponents Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo led to the match being abandoned and Kato and her Indonesian partner Sutjiadi being disqualified.
Miyu Kato burst into tears after reaching the mixed doubles semifinals with Tim Puetz, a day after she was disqualified from women’s doubles for hitting a ball girl with a ball
Kato (left) gets a hug from her German mixed doubles partner Puetz on Monday morning
It comes after a ball girl was left in tears at the French Open after being hit on the shoulder by a shot from Kato between points, leading to the disqualification of Kato and her partner
The ball can be seen just to the left of the field flying towards the ball girl on the bottom left
The ball hit the ball girl (lower left) as the players prepared between points
Kato tried to comfort the ball girl and apologized before the Japanese-Indonesian couple pleaded with officials that it was not an intentional act. The ball girl was led off the field by officials.
When umpire Alexandre Juge confirmed the disqualification, Kato herself burst into tears.
During the discussions, an official compared the incident to Novak Djokovic’s disqualification from the 2020 US Open after he hit a line judge in the throat with the ball.
“If you hit someone and they are injured, you are responsible for that action,” the official said. “Even if you don’t mean it, you’re still responsible for that action.”
The Czech Bouzkova and the Spaniard Sorribes won the first set 7-6 (7-1), but were broken 3-1 by Kato and Sutjiadi in the second.
There was a cheer from the crowd as the 16th seeds were disqualified and the pair applauded from the field. They lose all prize money earned at Roland Garros and all ranking points achieved.
Bouzkova explained their protest afterwards: ‘It’s difficult. The girl cried for 15 minutes.
“I think the warning came first because he [the umpire] I didn’t see her crying and she was in so much pain.
“We told him to look inside more because the girl was crying and the ball went straight for her, it wasn’t a slower ball. We told them [Kato and Sutjiadi] It’s really unfortunate.’
According to the grand slam rule book, players may not violently, dangerously or with anger strike, kick or throw a tennis ball within the tournament grounds, except in reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up). .
“In all cases of non-payment, the decision of the referee in consultation with the grand slam chief or supervisors is final and not subject to appeal.”
World No. 1 Djokovic was thrown out of the 2020 US Open after angrily flicking a ball that struck female linesman Laura Clark in the throat.
Kato went over to comfort the youngster but to no avail as they were disqualified
A Roland Garros official explains the rules to Kato and partner Aldila Sutjiadi before the referee confirmed the end of the match
It was then Kato who had to be comforted by her doubles partner after being absent
Djokovic initially pleaded that Clark had not been seriously injured, but ultimately had to default and later apologized for “causing her so much stress,” saying his swipe was “so unintentional, so wrong.”
Tim Henman, who would later become Britain’s No. 1, was disqualified from Wimbledon doubles in 1995 for a similar incident with a wayward ball.
Henman was playing alongside Jeremy Bates when he reacted angrily to scoring a volley by hitting the ball, which hit a ball girl in the ear.
The umpire immediately decided to end the game, with opponents Henrik Holm and Jeff Tarango advancing.