EXCLUSIVE: 'Uncool' reaction to ball girl incident slammed by Wally Masur as question hangs over default
Australian tennis great Wally Masur has questioned the consistency of officiating at grand slams and player sportsmanship after Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato were disqualified from Roland-Garros when the latter accidentally hit a ball kid.
The incident happened in the second set between points in the third round of the tournament when Kato hit a ball to the other end of the court to a ball kid whose hands were already full, striking her on the neck.
Kato went up to apologise to the ball kid, who despite her tears appeared to accept the apology as she gave a thumbs up.
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Shortly thereafter, the umpire gave Sutjiadi and Kato a code violation. However, their opponents Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo appeared to press for further punishment at which point the offenders were disqualified by the referee.
A ball flies towards a ball kid off of Miyu Kato's racquet. Stan Sport
Sutjiadi and Kato subsequently forfeited their prize money, worth $35,000 apiece, and world ranking points.
Speaking on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily, Masur said there were "a few things to unpack" in the complex incident.
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"Was it hit in anger? It wasn't hit in anger. She (Kato) is very unlucky. How many times has (Roger) Federer swatted a ball at the ball kid and they've caught it," Masur reasoned.
"But you've got to be aware that the ball kids are aware.
"The ball didn't bounce. Had it bounced and just gently hit the ball girl, no problems. Hit her on the fly, in the neck. That's a problem."
Masur took issue with Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo for pushing for their opponents to be disqualified.
The pair came under scrutiny in the wake of the incident, appearing to smile after the decisive call was made.
"The umpire had dealt with it and ultimately now it's the decision of the referees, but that's a locker-room confrontation waiting to happen, isn't it? – when your opponents are agitating for you to be forfeited," said Masur.
"That's uncool," he added. "That would do your head in."
Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo smiling after their opponents were defaulted for hitting a ball girl at Roland-Garros Stan
Masur also questioned inconsistency in officiating.
He noted a particular incident at Wimbledon last year when Stefanos Tsitsipas fired a ball into the crowd, narrowly missing a spectator.
His Australian opponent, Nick Kyrgios, demanded the Greek ace be disqualified, but no action was taken beyond a warning.
"But what about the consistency? Cast your mind back to Wimbledon last year. Tsitsipas v Kygrios," said Masur.
"He fires a ball into the crowd in anger; it hits somebody on the fly at pace – nothing done, no consistency."
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