Hungarian tennis player Amarissa Kiara Toth has issued an apology following the controversy surrounding her first-round victory against Zhang Shuai at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Toth's actions during the match sparked outrage and led to Shuai retiring due to a reported panic attack.
The incident unfolded when Shuai questioned a line call, believing her forehand had landed in. While Shuai sought clarification from the umpire, Toth erased the ball mark on the clay court with her foot. This act upset Shuai, leading to a heated exchange with the umpire. Toth was later seen celebrating as a tearful Shuai left the court.
In a statement on Facebook, Toth expressed remorse, saying, "I did not think that my first ever WTA main draw success of my career would cause such a storm. I am extremely sorry for what happened. I respect Zhang Shuai as a player and as a person. It was never my intention to disrespect, hurt or upset anybody, let alone Zhang Shuai." She acknowledged her celebratory actions were inappropriate, attributing them to the heat of the moment and her emotions.
The match was tied 5-5 in the first set when the controversial incident occurred. Shuai's protest and request for a match supervisor were met with Toth wiping away the ball mark. Toth's response to Shuai's questioning – "Because you’re making problems, that’s why" – further fueled the controversy.
Upon returning to the court, Shuai faced boos from the home crowd, ultimately leading to her tearful retirement. Toth later commented that she didn't understand Shuai's reaction, saying, "I don’t understand why she made a fuss out of it… I don’t understand why she didn’t accept it, but she made trouble for herself."
Toth's actions drew sharp criticism from fellow players. Ajla Tomljanovic called the behavior "absolutely disgusting," while Ellen Perez expressed shock at the "level of disrespect." Despite the controversy, Toth went on to play in the next round, eventually losing to Kateryna Baindl.
