Fans Blast Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova for Getting Kato and Sutjiadi Defaulted

Fans Blast Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova for Getting Kato and Sutjiadi Defaulted

Joel Reyes
updated at June 5, 2023 at 8:17 AM
  • Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi were disqualified in the 2023 French Open on Sunday
  • Kato accidentally hit a ball girl during the second set of their third-round match
  • Fans blasted Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo for their roles in the default decision

Controversy erupted in the 2023 French Open on Sunday, when the doubles pairing of Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi were disqualified from their doubles match at Roland Garros after the former hit a ball girl with a ball.

Having lost the first set to the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, Indonesia’s Sutjiadi and Kato of Japan were leading 3-1 in the second set of their third-round match when the incident occurred.

Kato left the ball girl in tears after a ball she struck to the opposite end of the court between points hit her.

Marie Bouzkova, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Miyu Kato, Aldila Sutjiadi
Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova at French Open. Images: Pierre Costabadie/ Robert Prange
Source: Getty Images

Though it did not appear as if Kato intentionally meant to hit the ball girl, the incident visibly shook her. She stood at the back of the court with tears in her eyes after getting hit near the head.

Kato and Sutjiadi disqualified

Chair umpire, Alexandre Juge issued a code violation on Sutjiadi and Kato before tournament referee, Remy Azemar and Grand Slam supervisor, Wayne McKewen appeared on Court 14, where the match took place, per CNN.

It was announced after discussions between the players and officials that the duo had been disqualified.

The Roland Garros crowd wasn’t thrilled with the development, greeting the news of the pair being defaulted with boos and jeers. Sutjiadi comforted her partner, Kato, who was distraught after learning of the decision.

Fans blast default decision

Fans took to social media to express their disgust about the decision to default Kato and Sutjiadi.

Some fans blamed Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova, saying that they should be ashamed of themselves for their pathetic sportsmanship.

They blasted the Czech and the Spaniard for protesting to get their opponents defaulted.

Some said Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova were even laughing as the decision was being made.

One fan wrote that they took advantage of a child to force their opponents’ default.

Another fan wrote that if Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova were really concerned about the girl's well-being, they should have checked on her.

Djokovic, Alcaraz reach quarterfinals

Sports Brief recently reported on the favorites to win the French Open title.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz remain on course to meet in the semifinals.

They both won in straight sets in the fourth round on Sunday to advance.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.