Victoria Azarenka confronted the umpire when she was left in disbelief at a call during her second-round match in Indian Wells. The former world No. 1 was facing eighth seed Qinwen Zheng when she greatly misjudged one of her opponent’s shots.
Azarenka thought the ball was going out before it landed firmly on the line. With electronic line calling in use, it meant she couldn’t challenge. The two-time former champion in Indian Wells went on an X-rated rant about the “s****y system” and was slapped with a code violation. She quickly got broken and lost the match.
After a disappointing start to the season, Azarenka was hoping to turn things around in Indian Wells. The Belarusian had not been beyond the second round at any tournament so far this year and she was hoping to end that streak when she faced Zheng on Friday.
Azarenka had a tough task if she wanted to make it to round three, coming up against the No. 8 seed and Olympic champion. Zheng took the first set but Azarenka tried to claw her way back, immediately getting back on serve when she twice went a break down in set two.
At 4-4 30-30 in the second set, the world No. 35’s back was against the wall. Azarenka ran back towards a ball she thought was going out and lifted her arm to challenge, forgetting automatic line calling was in use.
Azarenka was shocked by the call, refusing to believe the hawkeye replay showing the ball in. Commentators branded it a “horrible misjudgement”, while the 35-year-old marched to the umpire’s chair, claiming the ball was out.
“There’s absolutely no way,” the 35-year-old said. “This is bulls****. What is the video review for? I mean, it’s a clear mark. It’s already the second time. It’s a clear mark.”
But there was nothing the umpire could do. The automatic call was final. “I understand but I can’t,” chair official Marija Cicak. Azarenka was aware the umpire was powerless but that didn’t stop her venting her frustrations with the electronic system.
She replied: “I know you can’t do it. It’s a s****y f****** system.” Azarenka’s sweary rant got her into trouble, earning her a code violation.
When Cicak informed the world No. 35 that she had to receive a warning, Azarenka added: “Of course I have to get a code.”
The Belarusian retreated to the baseline to continue the match, facing a break point. She saved it but got broken in the same game and Zheng closed out a 6-3 6-4 victory.
While Azarenka’s Indian Wells performance was another disappointment, the two-time Major winner has been making huge strides off the court.
A WTA Player Council representative, Azarenka has been pushing for maternity pay on the women’s tennis tour, and she finally achieved her goal this week.
The WTA announced a landmark scheme in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth find, the PIF, on Thursday. Under the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, players will receive paid maternity leave for up to 12 months, grants for fertility treatments, and other benefits.
“This marks the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family,” mother-of-one Azarenka said.
“Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine, and I’m excited to see the lasting impact it will have for generations to come.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk