A rollercoaster week at the French Open that started in tears has finished in tears for Japan’s Miyu Kato, just for much different reasons.
Kato and her women’s doubles partner, Aldila Sutjiadi, were disqualified from the third round of the tournament earlier in the week after Kato lobbed a ball she’d picked up at net gently towards a ballgirl at the other end of the court.
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But unfortunately the ball hit the ballgirl in the side of her chest, who burst into tears and was in visible discomfort.
The chair umpire gave Kato a warning but their opponents Mari Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo argued that Kato and Sutjiadi should be defaulted from the match, which match officials agreed with.
Kato was also stripped of her rankings points and close to $A70,000 in prizemoney after reaching the third round of the tournament.
She also posted a picture with the ball girl that was struck which also went viral.
Viewers were furious at Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo who campaigned for their opponents to default, with Kato leaving the court in tears.
But a matter of days later, they were tears of joy as Kato along with German partner Tim Puetz claimed the mixed doubles title.
The pair defeated Canada’s Bianca Andreescu and New Zealand’s Michael Venus 4-6 6-4 10-6 to claim the silverware and the emotion was clear.
“It has been challenging mentally in the last few days after my unjust disqualification from the women’s doubles,” Kato told the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, reading from a prepared statement.
“Thanks to all the players for their heartfelt messages of support. I used that positive energy on court here today.
“I am now looking for a positive result to my appeal so I can reclaim my prize money, points and my reputation.”
For the record, Kato will move up in the WTA doubles rankings to World No. 27 and the pair won $200,000 for winning the mixed doubles title.
Puetz said he hoped the title would help Kato after the drama of the default.
“I hope this is redemption for you after what happened,” he said. “The support you received was well deserved.”
Speaking on Eurosport, Nick Lester said: “There have been tears of desolation, haven’t there? And now there might be some tears of joy.
“Ejected from the women’s doubles after that incident a few days ago now, and maybe she’ll feel a little bit of justice has been done here, who knows.”
Kato was a very popular mixed doubles winner as the world reacted to her triumph.
Racquet Magazine’s Ben Rothenberg tweeted: “Miyu Kato, who improbably became the most-talked-about tennis player in the world for a few days after her #RolandGarros women’s doubles DQ, bounces back from that shock disappointment to win the mixed doubles with Tim Puetz. Wild, wild ride.”
The Tennis Weekly Podcast called it: “One of THE stories so far from the French Open.”
Express Sport’s Yasmin Syed posted: “She has turned out to be one of the stories of the tournament. What a lovely end to what started as a horrible saga.”
With AFP