Star player Zhang Shuai quits tennis match after his opponent rubs ball mark in controversial charge

The Women’s Tennis Association is investigating an “unfortunate incident” at the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this week that sparked accusations of racism, poor sportsmanship and an outpouring of support for Chinese tennis champion Zhang Shuai.

Zhang fell apart on the court and eventually withdrew from the match at the Grand Prix of Budapest on Tuesday after her opponent, Hungary’s Amarissa Toth, appeared to rub the marks of the ball with her shoe in response to a controversial call. Zhang finished the match in the first round. It ended 6-5 with Toth in the lead.

Controversy occurred when Zhang’s shot appeared to land inside the boundary line to Toth, but was eventually called. Zhang later asked the umpire to review the call, but before anyone arrived, Toth approached the spot on the court where Zhang’s ball had landed and rubbed it out with his foot. The incident was recorded on video since the match was televised.

“Wait, wait, wait! Hold the sign,” Zhang is heard telling his opponent. “What are you doing? Why would you do that?”

Zhang was then seen crying for a moment on the sidelines of the court before shaking hands with Toth and the referee and withdrawing from the match as the crowd booed.

“The WTA has zero tolerance for racism in any form or context,” the WTA tweeted. “The unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday at the Hungarian (Budapest) GP and the subsequent posts will be reviewed and addressed.”

One post that appeared to have been deleted from the Hungarian GP Facebook page drew particular criticism in the tennis community. In a comment shared under one of its posts after the match, which continued to make the rounds on Twitter in numerous screenshots later in the week, the tournament appeared to defend the referee’s original call and Toth’s win, writing: “The Chinese manipulated the world with a manipulative video.”

Zhang admitted the incident on Wednesday Instagram. “All the practice attempts were wrong because when you wanted to hit closer to the line, even touched the line, but still called OUT… I love you guys and all the girls who support me and stood by me,” he captioned my message.

Numerous professional tennis players have spoken out against the Hungarian Grand Prix and Toth, as well as in support of Zhang.

“That’s another level of unsportsmanlike behavior. Wow,” Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenka tweeted.

“Toth ‘won’ this point and ‘won’ this match, but his reputation is ruined,” said Daria Saville of Australia in another reaction to the controversy on Twitter.

“Absolutely disgusting behavior. Shuai is a better person than many of us because he shook the referee and the girls hand.” wrote Ajla Tomljanović, another Australian tennis professional. “But then again we’re talking about Shuai, but he did.”

“Well, that’s a quick way to lose respect from your peers. I’m actually shocked by this girl’s disrespect,” Ellen Perez, also from Australia, wrote in another article. Tweetreferring to Toth.

The WTA has not provided details of its review of the match or how it was handled at the Hungarian GP.