Maria Sakkari and Danielle Collins involved in ugly tennis storm: 'Shut your mouth'
The match was overshadowed by tense scenes involving the rival women's stars.
Controversy erupted at the Canadian Open during fiery scenes in the match between tennis stars Danielle Collins and Greek rival Maria Sakkari, which the American won in straight sets. Collins booked a round of 16 clash with local hope Leylah Fernandez after downing World No.8 Sakkari, 6-4, 6-2 in another impressive display for the former Australian Open runner-up.
However, things got heated between the two players in the second set when Sakkari lashed out in frustration after serving a fault as she looked to stay in the contest at 2-1 down. Collins returned the Greek's serve but after hearing a lines person call it out, Sakkari whacked the ball off the side of the court in annoyance.
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The ball came off the frame of the Greek player's racquet and went hurtling towards camera crew members and spectators sitting at the front of the grandstand. Fortunately for Sakkari it didn't hit anyone because the 28-year-old could have been defaulted like Novak Djokovic in the infamous 2020 US Open for hitting a line judge.
Doubles pair Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi were also at the centre of a controversial disqualification at the French Open this year when Kato’s cross-court shot hit a ball girl on the shoulder. The pair were initially given a warning, but opponents Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo protested and Kato and Sutjiadi were eventually disqualified.
Tense moment at WTA 1000 Montreal tonight between Sakkari and Collins.
I agree with Collins here--the officials need to be way stricter on players recklessly smacking the ball and throwing racquets into the stands.
Should be no looking the other way when that happens. pic.twitter.com/fpsA6MSnm2— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 10, 2023
Danielle Collins fumes at Maria Sakkari
While Sakkari did not hit anyone, the incident still left Collins seething on the other side of the net, with the American appealing to the chair umpire about her opponent's conduct. “Did you just see that? Did you see what happened?” She asked the chair umpire.
Sakkari fired back: “It didn’t even hit anyone. It was on the ground.” Collins could then be heard telling her Greek rival: “Shut your mouth. Shut your mouth", before Sakkari continued to plead her case.
“What is your problem? I didn’t hit anyone. I framed the ball," Sakkari said before she was cut off by a clearly irritated Collins. “You hit the ball into the stands, Maria. You almost hit someone," the American fumed before the chair umpire was able to defuse the situation and play resumed.
Danielle Collins books round of 16 clash with Leylah Fernandez
The incident appeared to derail Sakkari as Collins broke her serve to go up 3-1, before claiming two more breaks later in the set to cruise to victory. The World No.48 looks set to have to wait for her round of 16 match against Fernandez after bad weather forced a suspension in play.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek was level at a set apiece with No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova when her match was postponed. Tenth seed Daria Kasatkina was leading Marie Bouzkova 2-1 in the second set after taking the first.
Earlier women's action saw Jessica Pegula advance to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Italy's Jasmine Paolini. Pegula will next face the winner of the round of 16 match between American sixth seed Coco Gauff and Czech ninth seed Marketa Vondrousova.
with agencies
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