Martina Navratilova Criticizes Umpire and Condemns 'Unsportsmanlike Behavior' of Amarissa Toth following Disturbing Zhang Shuai Incident

Scandal rocks tennis world as Chinese player forced to retire.

The tennis world has been shaken by a scandal that unfolded during the WTA's Budapest Open on Tuesday. Chinese player Shuai Zhang was forced to retire after experiencing a panic attack following a series of unfortunate events. The combination of controversial officiating, questionable sportsmanship, and a hostile crowd overwhelmed Zhang, putting her in a clearly emotional state.

The controversy began when Zhang was playing against Hungarian player Amarissa Toth. The chair umpire made a glaring mistake while checking a ball mark on the clay court, resulting in an incorrect call. To make matters worse, Toth decided to erase the mark despite Zhang's pleas not to. Adding insult to injury, Toth celebrated after her opponent was forced to retire.

The tennis community has rallied against Toth and the umpire, expressing their support for Zhang, who is widely liked among players on the tour. Ons Jabeur, Ajla Tomljanovic, and Daria Gavrilova, among others, have taken to Twitter to show their support for Zhang and condemn Toth's unacceptable and disgraceful behavior towards the sport.

The latest and most prominent criticism of Toth and the umpire comes from tennis legend Martina Navratilova. Now a commentator and pundit, Navratilova did not hold back in her criticism on Twitter. In response to a tweet by ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert, Navratilova called the situation "pathetic from any angle," stating that the umpire is unfit to officiate clay court matches and labeling Toth as a bad sport.

Toth's actions have not only upset fans but also her fellow players. She is now facing criticism for her post-match comments, in which she suggested that Zhang was responsible for her own troubles. As a player ranked outside the WTA's top 500, Toth has become a target and is widely disliked due to this incident being her most prominent event on the tour.

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