May 4, 2024
Amarissa Toth is knocked out of the Budapest Open days after she was slammed for her ‘disgusting’ acts on the court which led to her opponent having a panic attack

Amarissa Toth is knocked out of the Budapest Open days after she was slammed for her ‘disgusting’ acts on the court which led to her opponent having a panic attack

Amarissa Toth is knocked out of the Budapest Open days after she was slammed for her ‘disgusting’ acts on the court which led to her opponent having a panic attack

  • Toth was knocked out of the Budapest Open following a straight sets loss  
  • It comes a round after she was slammed for her actions against Zhang Shuai 
  • She had been accused of showing a ‘new low for a lack of sportsmanship’ 

Hungarian tennis player Amarissa Toth has been knocked out of the Budapest Open, days after she shocked the tennis world with a series of ‘disgusting’ acts.

The 20-year-old was eliminated at the Round of 16 stage on Thursday in a 6-3, 6-1 straight sets loss to Ukrainian Kateryna Baindi.  

It was in the previous round when her veteran opponent Zhang Shuai left the court in tears after Toth’s actions – with the Hungarian accused of ‘a new low for sportsmanship’.

Her Chinese opponent hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line but was called out by the line judge, leaving Shuai incensed by the decision and demanding to speak to the tournament supervisor. 

Shuai argued with the umpire about the controversial call for several minutes while she was mocked and jeered while Toth appeared to be laughing. The Hungarian then walked up to the mark left by the ball that was called out and used her shoe to erase it.  

Hungarian Amarissa Toth has been knocked out of the Budapest Open days after her 'disgusting' acts led to her opponent having a panic attack

Hungarian Amarissa Toth has been knocked out of the Budapest Open days after her ‘disgusting’ acts led to her opponent having a panic attack

Toth denied that she had behaved badly in her match with Zhang Shuai in the prior round

Toth denied that she had behaved badly in her match with Zhang Shuai in the prior round

Shuai yelled from her side of the net, ‘Wait, wait, wait, keep the mark! What are you doing? Why would you do that?’

Toth responded by saying: ‘Because you’re making problems, that’s why.’

Shuai went on to win the game, but she looked visibly stressed during the changeover.

A physio was called to check on her before the world number 28 opted to retire while trailing 6-5 in the opening set of their match in Budapest.

TV commentators explained that Shuai was crying a ‘flood of tears’, with one calling the episode a ‘panic attack’.

The 34-year-old then retired from the match, quickly shaking hands with the umpire and Toth before pointing at sections of the crowd who had booed her.

Zhang later took to social media to complain about the call and thanked those who supported her.

‘All efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the line, even touched the line still OUT,’ Shuai wrote.

Zhang Shuai (pictured) was left in tears and unable to continue at the Budapest Open after a series of shocking acts from Hungarian opponent Amarissa Toth

Zhang Shuai (pictured) was left in tears and unable to continue at the Budapest Open after a series of shocking acts from Hungarian opponent Amarissa Toth

Toth (pictured) could be seen walking towards the contested ball marking and scuffing it out with her foot before officials could take a closer look

Toth (pictured) could be seen walking towards the contested ball marking and scuffing it out with her foot before officials could take a closer look

Shuai received an outpouring of support from ex-players after a controversial end to the match

Shuai received an outpouring of support from ex-players after a controversial end to the match

Zhuai thanked those who supported her after her exit from the Hungarian Open

Zhuai thanked those who supported her after her exit from the Hungarian Open

Toth’s conduct during the match was slammed by fans and players as ‘shameful’ and a ‘new low for sportsmanship’.

The Hungarian though denied that her behaviour was inappropriate. 

As previously reported, she said: ‘I don’t understand why she made such a fuss out of it, that she wanted to overrule the judge’s decision.

‘I don’t understand why she didn’t accept it, but she made trouble for herself.’

Who were the players involved? 

Zhang Shuai

Shuai, 34, who has spent over a decade in the sport, is a two-time major champion in women’s doubles after claiming victory at the Australian Open in 2019 and the US Open two years later. Both of those double triumphs came alongside Australian partner Samantha Stosur.

The Chinese star also reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 with Belgium’s Elise Mertens, only to suffer defeat against Alexa Guarachi and Andreja Klepac.

She has a career-high doubles ranking of world No 2 and has picked up 12 titles on the WTA tour.

As a single, Shuai has reached two major quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 2016 and Wimbledon three years later. She is one of only five Chinese tennis players in history to make it to this stage of a Grand Slam and has also been ranked as high as No 22 in the world.

Amarissa Toth 

Toth, 20, is only a few years into her professional career after making her WTA Tour main-draw debut at the Budapest Grand Prix in 2021.

She has a career-high ranking of 534 in singles and 264 in doubles, and has claimed 12 ITF Circuit finals titles – 11 of them coming in doubles.

The Hungarian youngster’s highest rank win so far came in the 2022 Slovak Open, where she got the better of Germany’s Eva Lys in the first round.

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