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Miyu Kato’s Disqualification at the French Open Raises Doubts Over Fairness and Sportsmanship

Claire Thomson
French Open disqualification

Claire Thomson

The French Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, has been engulfed in controversy following the disqualification of No. 16 seeds Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi from the tournament.

Importance of Sportsmanship

Japan’s Miyu Kato was alleged to have hit a ball girl in the face during the third-round match, leading to intense debates regarding the reactions of her opponents and the officials involved.

“the ballgirl was tearful and visibly shaken”

Having lost the opening set to Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, Kato and Sutjiadi were leading 3-1 in the second set when the incident occurred. The incident has not only raised questions about fair play but also shed light on the importance of sportsmanship in high-stakes competitions.

Coverage of the incident showed Kato innocuously hitting the ball to the back of the court after a point, and though it did not appear intentional, the ball hit the ball girl on her head. Standing at the back of the court, the ballgirl was tearful and visibly shaken.

The Final Decision

Chair umpire Alexandre Juge issued a code violation and warning. However, after her opponents protested and pointed out that the ball girl was crying, grand slam supervisor Wayne McKewen and tournament referee Remy Azemar appeared on the court. After discussions between the officials and the players, the decision was upgraded and it was announced that the pair had been defaulted from the doubles competition.

Unfair Decisions by Referees Throughout History

It is not the first time in a grand slam that a player has been the victim of a brutal call by the umpire and referee. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in 2020 when Novak Djokovic’s US Open ended early after he was disqualified for unintentionally hitting a line judge.

Grand Slam Rule Book

According to the Official Grand Slam Rule Book, players “shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball within the precincts of the tournament site except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up).”

“they should feel ashamed”

The rule book states: “In all cases of default, the decision of the referee in consultation with the grand slam chief of supervisors shall be final and unappealable.”

The rule book further stipulates that a player who is defaulted loses all ranking points earned at the tournament and all prize money earned at the tournament.

Reaction from the Tennis Community

The decision made within the tennis community has caused a division in reactions, with many players expressing criticism.

Jamie Hampton, a former player, expressed disappointment in Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova, stating that they should feel ashamed. Hampton also highlighted numerous issues with how the incident was handled.

In a tweet, Misaki Doi shared her disappointment with the default decision and questioned whether it would have occurred if the ballgirl hadn’t burst into tears or if Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova hadn’t complained.

Gilles Simon also showed disdain for the behaviour of Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova, describing the officiating as “most stupid.”

Pam Shriver, a former doubles champion, pointed out Bouzkova’s past recognition for good sportsmanship and suggested that it might not be repeated.

Sportsmanship

The default has underscored the importance of sportsmanship in tennis and all competitive sports. Sportsmanship encompasses fair play, respect for opponents, and a genuine concern for the well-being of everyone involved, including ball kids and officials. Athletes are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship, mainly when accidents or injuries occur during a match.

“After the tears and sadness, Miyu Kato is a Grand Slam champion”

Yet, less than a week later and the redemption arc is complete. After the tears and sadness, Miyu Kato is a Grand Slam champion for the very first time. The 28-year-old won the mixed doubles with partner Tim Puetz, beating Bianca Andreescu and Michael Venus 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.

Afterwards, she met with the ball girl she accidentally struck during her women’s doubles campaign and gave her a gift.

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Feature image courtesy of Renith R via Unsplash. No changes or alterations have been made to this image. Image licence can be found here. 

Aspiring Sports Journalist and Modern Languages Student (French/German) at University of Glasgow

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