At 34 years old, Shuai Zhang is going through a very difficult situation on a personal level and feeling totally cheated at the WTA Budapest 2023 caused her to burst into tears and withdraw from the match, while her rival celebrated in an unsportsmanlike manner after having erased the mark of a ball that precipitated everything.
Just when we think we’ve seen it all on a tennis court, something as crazy and unfortunate as the one suffered by Shuai Zhang in the first round of WTA 250 Budapest 2023. Well known to all is the complex situation in which this 34-year-old Chinese tennis player, winner of two titles and who became 22 in the world, finds herself after she admitted a few weeks ago that she suffered from depression and that she was not prepared to continue competing. . She hasn’t won an individual match since January and she’s reaching limits where she needs help.
She has not set foot in China for 3 years due to problems with her Federation, which deprived her of competing in the Tokyo Olympics and with whom she has an open war. A few months ago her grandparents passed away and Shuai was unable to say goodbye to them, which made her reflect on her life. “I feel deeply mentally tired, I have begun to think about the meaning of life. I am 34 years old and I have been dedicated to tennis for 29, I have a limit,” she commented before acknowledging that she misses the food of her country, among many other things. things.
Zhang Shuai: “After my grandparents passed away, I started thinking about the meaning of life. I am 34. I’ve played tennis for 29 years. I’ve tried all my best, but everyone has a limit. I feel deeply tired, especially mentally. I miss Chinese food in China.” pic.twitter.com/p7deLsKVEo
— Bendou Zhang– (@BendouZhang) July 5, 2023
What no one could foresee is that he would also have to experience a draconian situation in a match, with his rival deliberately erasing a mark so they could not review it and the chair umpire ignoring his protests, which led to an anxiety attack and his withdrawal of the meeting
Let’s go in order. The score was 5-5 and 15-15 and the local, Amarissa-Kiara Toth, competed with great enthusiasm to reap her first win at the WTA level. Zhang was far from her level but he was looking for a soothing triumph that would alleviate her problems. She hit a tight right hand that was called out and the umpire climbed out of his chair and, incomprehensibly, said the ball had not gone in, even though it was clearly visible to the eye that it had touched the line. Shuai angrily protests and requests that the supervisor come over.
I went to check the controversial point between Shuai Zhang and Kiara Toth and I really don’t have words for how bad the umpire was for this mark. @WTA it’s really time you do something and investigate these, they can’t make such big mistakes at this level. This is pure robbery pic.twitter.com/2jr6MY3tDU
— LorenaPopa –️♀️– (@popalorena) July 18, 2023
The celebrations by the crowd and her opponent considering the situation are absolutely shameful.
This was the mark ——♂️
Do better, everyone. pic.twitter.com/IS4PnmFAkq
— Jose Morgado (@josemorgado) July 18, 2023
The next point is played, which Zhang wins, while they wait for the supervisor to come to check the mark of the previous point. But at that moment, the Hungarian player goes to the brand that caused the controversy and erases it, without any blush. The Chinese woman explodes, she yells at her rival not to do it, but she doesn’t listen to her. Shuai feels completely deceived and no longer knows how to argue that what Toth has done is totally illegal, unsportsmanlike and disrespectful, while the umpire does absolutely nothing and the Hungarian public scolds her.
erasing the ball mark and celebrating when your opponent retires from the match is a new low for sportsmanship in tennispic.twitter.com/lU3ORaGL7T
— Ryan (@Some1NamedRyan) July 18, 2023
But the worst was yet to come. Shuai Zhang he suffers an anxiety attack, calls the tournament doctor to be the tournament, cannot suppress his nerves and begins to cry inconsolably. Demonstrating his elegance and education, he goes to shake hands with the chair umpire and his rival, despite what had happened, and the greatest indignation for all tennis fans comes when they see how Toth begins to celebrate it in his face, without any embarrassment, while the public present in the stands applauded and cheered for the withdrawal of the Chinese. In short, a real scandal in which the WTA should take action.
What a lack of respect and ethics with Zhang Shuai. The Hungarian Amarissa Kiara Tóth celebrated in front after the withdrawal of the Chinese. pic.twitter.com/LQ6EhtpyWD
—Harry Yamamoto (@harryyamamoto) July 18, 2023
2023-07-19 10:28:39
#Shuai #Zhang #robbery #scandal #Budapest #depression #anxiety
