Quite often, drama unfolds in the game of tennis. For what the sport is known for, tension, frustration, celebration, victory, and loss are always what fans want to see. But sometimes players are disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct by accidentally striking a ball girl with a stray hit.
Rafael Nadal, who is currently awaiting his return to Tennis, was the first player to get away with punishment for hitting a ball girl with the ball, but Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi suffered the heaviest penalty when one of them mistakenly hit a ball girl.
Miyu Kato once got disqualified due to accidentally hitting a ball girl
Miyu Kato accidentally struck a ball kid with a stray hit. This occurred during the women’s doubles third-round match between Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi, against Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, at the 2023 French Open.
The drama began when Kato hit a ball up the other end of the court between points while they were leading 3-1 at 30-30 in the second set, having lost the opener on a tie-break, and it inadvertently struck a ball kid. The ball girl was left in tears by the incident. After the incident, Miyu Kato was given a warning by the chair umpire, but Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo made him aware of the fact that the ball girl was in tears about what had happened.
The supervisor was then alerted to the situation and he eventually decided that Kato and Sutjiadi should be defaulted from the match due to the incident, despite it having been an accident. After the incident, Kato was left in distress by being defaulted and Sutjiadi had to comfort her partner as they both settled on the terms of their dismissal from the Roland Garros event.
However, Miyu Kato took to social media to apologize for the situation: βI would like to sincerely apologize to the ball girl, my partner Aldila, & team & my supporters because of today’s unfortunate mishap. It was completely unintentional. As a result, I am penalized by RG by forfeiting my prize money & points. I appreciate all your continued support!β
Miyu Kato bounced back with French Open mixed doubles triumph
Miyu Kato turned emotional after she won the mixed doubles title with Tim Puetz, just few days after being controversially disqualified from the women’s doubles. After suffering default from the women’s doubles at Roland-Garros, when Miyu Kato whacked a ball up the other end of the court after a point and accidentally hurt a ball girl, she and her partner, Aldila Sutjiadi, were dismissed and were not paid their match paycheck.
Miyu Kato and Tim Puetz triumphed in a 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 victory against Michael Venus and Bianca Andreescu. It was clear to everyone on Court Philippe-Chatrier how special the moment was for Kato after all she had been through over the last few days in Paris.
Kato said after the victory: “it has been really challenging mentally for me the past few days due to the unjust disqualification from the women’s doubles. I want to thank all the players, coaches, everyone for the heartfelt messages of support. I was able to use all the positive energy to move forward so I could be here today. Thanks to my female doubles partner Aldila [Sutjiadi], her team and all the Indonesian fans.β
Miyu Kato has gone on to do immensely well for herself, on 23 October 2023, she peaked at No. 27 in the WTA doubles rankings. The Japanese star has won four doubles titles on the WTA Tour and two WTA 125 doubles titles.
