Tereza Martincova has experienced a week to forget at the St. Petersburg Open in Russia after she was disqualified from the tournament on Sunday for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct.’
The Czech world No.166 was playing Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the second round of qualifying on Sunday. Throughout the match Martincova was engaged in a heated argument with the umpire, who questioned her decisions on numerous occasions.
“The referee corrected the line umpires against me throughout the rubber,” Martincova told tenisovysvet.cz.
“When she did that for the third time in the second set, I yelled at her asking if she was taking the ****, but no warning came,” she added.
Against Bertens, the Czech was leading the match by a set and a break and was 4-1 up in the deciding set before being pegged back to 5-5 by Bertens. It was at 5-5 where the disqualification occurred. A Bertens shot was originally called out before the umpire overruled it. The decision was one that angered the Czech, who shouted to former top 30 player player Michaella Krajicek in the crowd.
“She didn’t understand the verdict either and I asked her (Krajicek) if I should punch the ref in the face.” The 22-year-old explained.
The Czech talk would have been something Martincova would have got away with if it wasn’t for the line umpire, who also speaks Czech. Informing the umpire about what Martincova said, she was then defaulted in the match with the score at 6-4, 4-6, 5-5.
A day after the controversial incident, Martincova has expressed regret about her behaviour in the match.
“I made a mistake and I learnt a lesson. I am sorry, but I didn’t expect a suspension without a warning,” she added.
Martincova has won two ITF titles in her career with her biggest accomplishment occurring in 2015 at a ITF $25,000 event in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. This year the Czech has played qualifying draws in Auckland, Hobart and the Australian Open, but failed to reach the main draw at all three events. She is yet to play in the main draw of a grand slam.
Note:- translations provided by Supersport/AFP
