Japan’s Miya Kato has reacted on Twitter after she was disqualified from the doubles at Roland Garros for (accidentally) hitting a child with balls.

Miyu Kato apologized for accidentally hitting a child with balls

Although it is clear that the Japanese woman did not want to hit the girl, she apologized to her and explained the consequences of the decision made by the referee (also influenced by Marie Buzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo).

“I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the ball boy. I want to apologize to her, as well as to my colleague Aldila and my supporters. It was an unfortunate mistake, completely unintentional.

As a result, I was disqualified and my prizes and points were confiscated. I want to thank them all for their support and messages” – Mia Kato on Twitter.

Presence in the 1/8 finals of the doubles is rewarded with 22,000 dollars (in case of selection in the quarter, the prize would be doubled), but the Japanese will no longer receive this amount. Kato can appeal this decision.

Miyu Kato and Aldila Suzyadi, disqualified after unintentionally hitting the ball

Kato and Sutyadi (seeded 16) lost the first set of their match against Marie Buzkova/Sara Sorribes Tormo (Czech Republic/Spain) in a tiebreak, but led 3-1 in the second set.

At that moment, the little girl started crying after being hit by the ball that sent Kato to the front line.

Although the chair judge initially deemed the warning sufficient (claiming that the Japanese woman’s gesture was not intentional and the child was not harmed), Buzkova intervened and called for the opponents to be disqualified (insisting that the girl was crying).

The tournament supervisor also appeared on the court and (after discussion with the guy who hit the ball) decided that Suzyadi and Kato would lose the match “on the green table”. Nipona left the field in tears.

Internet users (as well as important names in tennis) believe that the Japanese did not want to beat the girl, and criticized Buzkova and Sorribes Tormo, who did not even see the moment and wanted to win the match at all costs.

“How can you demand disqualification of opponents when you don’t even see what happened? It is clear that he did not notice the moment the child hit the ball. I hope he can sleep at night after what he has done. As for the actual decision to disqualify Kato/Sujiadi, it is the stupidest decision that could have been made” – Simon livedformer ATP No. 6, according to TennisUpToDate.