“You need to switch it off!” Parma final interrupted by Sherif phone call

Of all the times you don’t want to be interrupted by your phone ringing, in the middle of a final has to be up there.

But Mayar Sherif had to race to her chair during the first set of the Parma Ladies Open final against Maria Sakkari – to deal with her phone notifications.

“You need to switch it off, Mayar!” scolded chair umpire Miriam Bley, and the Egyptian nodded vigorously to confirm that she had.

Players are used to being disgruntled by people in the crowd not switching off their phones despite constant reminders – another player disturbing the silence is rather more unusual.

It didn’t do too much harm, though – Sherif won the set and the match for her maiden WTA title.

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