Tennis legend Martina Navratilova slams ‘not match’ umpire in Kiara Toth controversy

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova had some phrases for Kiara Toth and the official that seemingly allowed Tuesday’s Hungarian Grand Prix match to descend into chaos.

The customarily outspoken Navratilova known as the incident pathetic and deemed the chair umpire undeserving of working matches on clay.

“Pathetic from any angle-umpire isn’t match to name clay court docket matches and Toth is a foul sport,” Navratilova replied to former tennis participant and present ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert’s tweet asking for the WTA to look into the incident.

Kiara Toth, 20, became tennis’ villain after she erased the mark left by then world No. 45 Zhang Shuai’s cross-court forehand that appeared to land on the road however was known as out by the chair umpire.

At first Shuai, the match’s second seed, argued the ruling with the umpire, even at one level pleading for the match’s supervisor to point out up.

The umpire appeared to aspect with Toth as Shuai questioned her opponent’s motives for erasing the mark on the court docket, and by no means acquired out of her chair to look at the place the ball she dominated out had landed, as is the case for many clay court docket matches when a participant questions the umpires name.

Toth, taking part in in entrance of her dwelling crowd was reportedly grinning whereas Shuai, 34, argued the ruling, and celebrated together with her arms within the air with the gang following Shuai’s retirement.

The match was tied 5-5 on the time of the incident.

The Chinese language native Shuai has reportedly been coping with psychological well being points just lately according to tennis journalist José Morgado.

Toth’s match run didn’t final lengthy as she was blown out by Ukrainian, Kateryna Baindl, in straight units on Thursday, dropping 6-3, 6-1 within the Spherical of 16.

After her defeat, Toth released a statement by way of the match’s Fb web page saying she didn’t count on her first WTA important drawn win to trigger issues.

“I’m extraordinarily sorry for what occurred, I respect Zhang Shuai as a participant and as an individual. It was by no means my intention to disrespect, harm or upset anyone, not to mention Zhang Shuai.