The disqualification of the duo Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi from the women’s doubles of the French Open has led to an outrage. Not only did fans lambast the decision, but also their opponents for pushing for a default. The mounting support for the two has grown even further. The Professional Tennis Players Association, the tennis committee of Novak Djokovic, has also raised its voice at the injustice. 

Similar conditions took place during the 2020 US Open. Djokovic accidentally hit a line person, and the subsequent result was a default. The decision split fans, as many supported the Djoker.

Tennis Association of Novak Djokovic speaks out on unfair default

As Kato accidentally hit the ball girl after the conclusion of a point, she was quick to apologize to the young girl. But their opponents pushed the umpire to default the pair. After some discussion, Kato and Sutjiadi were disqualified from the match. This did not settle well with any tennis fan, as an outrage followed the incident. 

Read more: BREAKING: Novak Djokovic Defaulted From US Open 2020

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Joining the wave of support for the disqualified players is the PTPA. They recently issued a statement about the circumstances under which the default was delivered.

They tweeted that while they want to ensure that the safety and well-being of the staff during a match is of prime importance, the decision for the dismissal was nigh unfair. 

“The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) affirms that ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in the sport, especially the ball girls and boys, is our highest priority. Nevertheless, the decision to default Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi was unjustifiably disproportionate and unfair.”

They continued by stating that the accidental nature of the incident should not have led to an abrupt end to the Roland Garros stint of Kato and Sutjiadi. “It is evident that the incident was accidental and not at all aggressive in nature. This should not have led to a code violation and subsequent defaulting. The incident and its aftermath underscore a fundamental principle of the PTPA: the demand for fair resolutions.”

Although the players’ French Open stint has ended, the association still fights for their points and prize money. They further stated that penalties of such an extent undermine the sport’s integrity along with harming the career of the players. 

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The association expressed solidarity with the players and began a dialogue with the French Tennis Federation. While the players can’t enter the tournament, an unfortunate blemish can be lifted from their careers.