Anastasia Rodionova Defaulted
Anastasia Rodionova Thrown Out of Cincinnati Open,It was a historic day in Ohio as Anastasia Rodionova became only the second player in WTA Tour history to be disqualified from a match. Rodionova was thrown out of the Cincinnati Open for "unsportsmanlike conduct" on Tuesday during a first round match against Angelique Kerber.
At the beginning of the match, the 25-year-old Russian complained to the umpire about fans applauding for her opponent during points.
Apparently, however, Rodionova's temper got the best of her. As Kerber led 4-6 6-4 1-0 in the third set, Rodionova's temper boiled over, and responded by forcefully smashing a ball towards a group of three fans at the opposite end of the court. The ball hit halfway up the front of the stand, and as the players were changing sides, the umpire consulted with the tournament's referee, William Coffey, who decided to default her and award Kerber the 4-6 6-4 1-0 victory.
After, Rodionova said: "I'm shocked. I still don't understand why they defaulted me. I'm really upset. I've never seen in my life anyone defaulted in this situation. I had no warning. I didn't hit the ball at anybody. I didn't swear at anybody. I didn't throw my racket."
Yes, but you hit a ball at fans! And officials believed that that could have been a dangerous situation.
The only other player in the WTA Tour's 36 year history to be disqualified from a match is Irinia Spirlea, who was tossed in Palermo in 1996 for abusive language towards a match official.
By Julie (www.clevelandleader.com)
At the beginning of the match, the 25-year-old Russian complained to the umpire about fans applauding for her opponent during points.
Apparently, however, Rodionova's temper got the best of her. As Kerber led 4-6 6-4 1-0 in the third set, Rodionova's temper boiled over, and responded by forcefully smashing a ball towards a group of three fans at the opposite end of the court. The ball hit halfway up the front of the stand, and as the players were changing sides, the umpire consulted with the tournament's referee, William Coffey, who decided to default her and award Kerber the 4-6 6-4 1-0 victory.
After, Rodionova said: "I'm shocked. I still don't understand why they defaulted me. I'm really upset. I've never seen in my life anyone defaulted in this situation. I had no warning. I didn't hit the ball at anybody. I didn't swear at anybody. I didn't throw my racket."
Yes, but you hit a ball at fans! And officials believed that that could have been a dangerous situation.
The only other player in the WTA Tour's 36 year history to be disqualified from a match is Irinia Spirlea, who was tossed in Palermo in 1996 for abusive language towards a match official.
By Julie (www.clevelandleader.com)
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