Miyu Kato, the Japanese tennis player who was disqualified from the French Open women’s doubles after accidentally hitting a ball on a girl’s neck, found victory elsewhere at the Grand Slam tournament.
Kato was holding the mixed doubles trophy with Germany’s Tim Puetz after defeating Bianca Andreescu and Michael Venus, 4-6, 6-4, 10-6, on Thursday.
Kato, 28, created some controversy when she was disqualified in the third round of the women’s doubles while facing Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo alongside her partner, Aldila Sutjiadi.
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Miyu Kato of Japan reacts as she plays Monica Niculescu of Romania against Luisa Stefani of Brazil and Shuai Zhang of China during their women’s doubles semifinal match at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at Zayed Sports City on February 11, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, USA. Arab Emirates. (Christopher Pike/Getty Images)
The incident occurred during the second set when Kato hit a tennis ball out of court and hit the neck of an inattentive ball boy. Kato’s decision to hit the ball came after she and Sutjiadi scored a point.
The girl was seen crying after the ball inadvertently hit her, ending the match abruptly.
FRENCH OPEN DOUBLES PLAYERS FORCED TO MISS MATCH AFTER ACCIDENTALLY HITTING BALL IN THE NECK
The tournament referee and a Grand Slam supervisor met on court, and the Kato-Sutjiadi team was disqualified.
Miyu Kato of Japan and Tim Puetz of Germany kiss the trophy after winning the mixed doubles final during the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2023 in Paris. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
«Obviously, it’s very unfortunate overall,» Bouzkova said after the match, according to Tennis Channel. «Sara and I had never been in this kind of situation, so it also gave us a bit of a shock. It’s a difficult situation for everyone. But it’s something that, I suppose, should be taken by the government as it is, even though it is very unfortunate for them.»
Kato received €21,500 in prize money as well as women’s doubles ranking points following the incident. However, she was allowed to compete in other events at the French Open, and she made the most of it.
«It’s been really challenging for me the last few days,» Kato said via ESPN. «I want to thank all the players, coaches, everyone for their heartfelt messages of support.»
Miyu Kato of Japan and her partner Tim Puetz of Germany raise the trophy after winning the mixed doubles final during the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2023 in Paris. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Kato and Puetz were a formidable duo on clay as they didn’t drop a set until the final. It is the first time they have played together at the French Open.