WTA peers support Shuai Zhang and call out Toth for unsportsmanlike behaviour after Budapest fiasco

Several WTA pros, including Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur, former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Garcia, Ajla Tomljanovic, Maria Sakkari and Daria Saville, sent out messages of support to Chinese tennis player Shuai Zhang after a controversial line call and the ensuing adverse reactions from the crowd left her in tears and forced her to retire from her first round match against local wildcard Amarissa Toth in the first round of the Hungarian Open.

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Hungarian Open: Zhang retires against local player Toth after bad call and crowd booing takes its toll

Tennis Majors

The players also called out Toth, a 20-year-old ranked No 548 in the world, for her unsportsmanlike behaviour of celebrating her win in the unfortunate circumstances.

Tomljanovic called Toth’s beahviour ‘absolutely disgusting’ while Saville said she had ‘zero respect for this Toth girl’ while players also commended Zhang for shaking the umpire and opponent’s hand after the fiasco.

Absolutely disgusting behavior.
Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girls hand.
But then again it’s Shuai we are talking about , ofc she did. https://t.co/GVcQ1NoPKe

— Ajla Tomljanovic (@Ajlatom) July 18, 2023

zero respect for this Toth girl. ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so so so mad. I feel so bad for Shuai 🙁 https://t.co/34UerpO9eL

— Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) July 18, 2023

Celebrating after your opponent retires.. what a shame 🤢 get well soon @zhangshuai121 🥹 https://t.co/Vmr5JbLeae

— Ysaline Bonaventure (@YsaBona) July 18, 2023

We All know what kind girl you are @zhangshuai121 🙏🏻🙌🏻🤗
Take care of yourself https://t.co/0htOCAohPJ

— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) July 19, 2023

Unacceptable empire mistake & opponent’s behavior!
You are a different league @zhangshuai121 ❤️ We are with you! https://t.co/FVbr7QI3Cu

— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) July 19, 2023

Omg what’s that reaction from opponent, I cannot believe🫣 Very bad referee, very bad sportsmanship.
Shuai💜 big hug to you my friend https://t.co/D6AaaB0Ghb

— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) July 19, 2023

All the support to Shuai ❤️
This is not acceptable. https://t.co/AjHJQKHYLo

— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) July 19, 2023

@zhangshuai121 is the nicest player on the tour!! That Toth girl should be banned from the tour 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 https://t.co/N9QLPDbLDX

— Maria Sakkari (@mariasakkari) July 19, 2023

That’s another level of unsportsmanlike conduct
Just wow https://t.co/bDFQwGiPd5

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) July 19, 2023

Zhang, who has now lost 13 matches in a row and has spoken about struggling mentally in recent weeks, posted a message on social media thanking those who supported her even while seemed to rue the hours of practice players put in to hit balls closer to the line.

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

I love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing my side pic.twitter.com/ZZt28KdbRE

— Shuai Zhang (@zhangshuai121) July 18, 2023

Zhang Shuai: "After my grandparents passed away, I started thinking about the meaning of life. I am 34. I've played tennis for 29 years. I've tried all my best, but everyone has a limit. I feel deeply tired, especially mentally. I miss Chinese food in China." pic.twitter.com/p7deLsKVEo

— Bendou Zhang🎾 (@BendouZhang) July 5, 2023