Doubles pair disqualified from French Open after ball girl hit by Miyu Kato

A women’s doubles was disqualified from the French Open after a player hit a ball girl with a ball, leaving her in tears.

Japan’s Miyu Kato fired a cross-court shot at the ball woman between the points, hitting her in the shoulder. As the young girl was desperate, Kato initially received a warning from the referee.

However, a protest by opponents Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo resulted in the game being abandoned and Kato and her Indonesian partner Aldila Sutjiadi being disqualified.

Kato tried to comfort the ball girl and apologized before the Japanese-Indonesian couple assured officials it was not a premeditated act. The ball girl was led off the field by officials.

When referee Alexandre Juge upheld the disqualification, Kato burst into tears himself.

A ball girl broke down in tears at the French Open after being caught between points in the shoulder by Japan’s Miyu Kato – resulting in the disqualification of Kato and her partner

The ball can be seen directly to the left of the pitch flying towards the ball girl on the bottom left

The ball hit the ball girl (bottom left) as the players prepared between the points

During the discussions, an official compared the incident to Novak Djokovic being disqualified from the 2020 US Open after hitting a linesman in the throat with the ball.

“If you hit someone and they get hurt, you are responsible for that action,” the officer said. “Even if you don’t mean it, you are still responsible for this act.”

Czech Bouzkova and Spaniard Sorribes won the first set 7-6 (7/1) but lost the second set 3-1 to Kato and Sutjiadi.

There was jeering from the crowd as the number 16 was disqualified and the pair applauded off the pitch. You will lose all prize money earned at Roland Garros and all ranking points accumulated.

Bouzkova then explained her protest: “It’s difficult.” The girl cried for 15 minutes.

“I think the warning came first because he [the umpire] I didn’t see her crying and in such pain.

“We told him to care more because the girl was crying and the ball was going straight at her, it wasn’t a slower ball.” We told them [Kato and Sutjiadi] It is very unfortunate.’

Kato went over to comfort the youngster but to no avail as he was disqualified

A Roland Garros official explains the rules to Kato and his partner Aldila Sutjiadi before the referee confirms the end of the game

Then it was Kato who had to be comforted by her doubles partner after falling out

According to the Grand Slam rulebook, players “may not violently, dangerously, or with anger hit, kick, or throw a tennis ball within the grounds of the tournament venue, except as a reasonable pursuit of a point during a game (including warm-up). ).” .

“In all cases of non-compliance, the decision of the referee, in consultation with the Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors, is final and non-appealable.”

Men’s World No. 1 Djokovic has been kicked out of the 2020 US Open after furiously ripping away a ball that hit linesman Laura Clark in the neck.

Djokovic initially maintained that Clark wasn’t seriously injured but eventually had to default and later apologized for “causing her so much stress” by saying his dig was “so unintentional, so wrong”.

Tim Henman, who would go on to become Britain’s No. 1, was disqualified from Wimbledon doubles for a year in 1995 Similar incident with an unpredictable ball.

Henman was playing alongside Jeremy Bates when he reacted angrily to a volley by hitting the ball, which caught a ball girl in the ear.

The referee decided to end the game immediately and opponents Henrik Holm and Jeff Tarango advanced.

Novak Djokovic reviews the linesman he accidentally hit in the throat with a ball at the 2020 US Open, resulting in his disqualification

Linesman Laura Clark clutched her throat after being hit by Djokovic’s punch