Martina Navratilova baffled by Kiara Toth’s unprofessionalism: “Pathetic”

Zhang Shuai, who was already battling mental health issues earlier this year when she was the victim of a regrettable episode at the WTA in Budapest.On the score of 5-5 in the first set of the match between Zhang and Kiara Toth, the Hungarian player served for the match.

A cross shot during the third point got a call out. The player decided to challenge the call. But the umpire backed the call, even though the shot appeared to land on the line, as shown in the slow motion replay.The unsportsmanlike behavior of Toth, who obliterated the place where the ball had hit the clay with her foot, and the unprofessional behavior of the chair umpire, led Zhang to retire, probably, as some local media claim, due to a panic attack.Toth also celebrated after her opponent withdrew, drawing much criticism on social media.The former tennis legend Martina Navratilova commented on the episode: “Pathetic from any angle- umpire is not fit to call clay court matches and Toth is a bad sport.”

Pathetic from any angle- umpire is not fit to call clay court matches and Toth is a bad sport — Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 19, 2023