MIYU KATO and Aldila Sutjiadi have been BOOTED out of the French Open after the former inadvertently reduced a ball girl to tears.
The Japanese-Indonesian team were taking on Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo in a third round clash on Court 14.
A controversial ending to a women’s doubles match as Kato/Sutjiadi were disqualified for hitting a ball girl
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 4, 2023pic.twitter.com/qaFHF8UpnT
Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo edged the first set 7-6, but trailed the second 3-1 when the moment of controversy occurred.
Upon the conclusion of what would turn out to be the final game of the match, Kato passed the ball over the net as Sorribes Tormo prepared to serve.
While not hit in anger, the careless backhand inadvertently struck a ball girl, who was subsequently reduced to tears.
The match umpire initially handed Kato and Sutjiadi a warning, before Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo stormed over to protest.
Following their complaints the supervisor was called to court.
The visibly emotional Kato went over to comfort and apologise to the ball girl, but was eventually defaulted after the umpire’s initial decision was upgraded.
After the default was confirmed, a tearful and remorseful Kato was comforted by her partner Sutjiadi.
The ball girl was escorted off court following the unfortunate incident.
Many fans felt that Kato and Sutjiadi had been harshly defaulted.
One wrote: “It looks like the ball was just being passed down the other end.”
While a second reasoned: “What a shame. Clearly an accident, so I think the umpire should have used common sense and issued a polite warning.”
Others felt that the right decision was reached, however, with one claiming: “If you want a zero tolerance rule, that has to be a default. Sucks to be Kato but the idea that the umpire should be looking at intent is clearly silly here.”
Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo will now face Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez in the quarter-finals.
