Karma might have caught up with Kiara Toth.
In her first match after her controversial victory over Zhang Shuai, Toth lost to Kateryna Baindl in straight sets — 6-3, 6-1 — in the Round of 16 at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Thursday.
Baindl used her post-match interview as an opportunity to praise Shuai, a respected veteran on the WTA Tour.
“I just want to say I hope they can stay fair and that Shuai Zhang feels better and hopefully we’ll see her back soon. She’s an unbelievable player, very respectful, and a great person,” Baindl said after the match. “There’s a lot to learn from her.”
Toth, a 20-year-old from Hungary, became the most hated woman in tennis earlier this week after pulling some shenanigans in her victory on Tuesday.
With the match tied 5-5 in the first set, Shuai, 34, hit a forehand winner that seemed to have landed on the line.
However, the umpire called the ball out, and as Shuai was protesting and asking for the tournament referee to come out, Toth walked to where the ball had landed and erased the mark with her foot.
As Toth was playing a home-country match, the crowd began booing Shuai, who ultimately became so overwhelmed that she retired from the match.
Meanwhile, Toth celebrated her “victory”.
“All efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the line, even touched the line still OUT …..” Shuai tweeted after the match.
“Love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing my side.”
Toth was met with scorn on social media, Ajla Tomljanovic calling it in an “absolutely disgusting” move.
“Well that’s a quick way to lose respect from your peers. I’m actually shook by the level of disrespect from this girl,” fellow pro Ellen Perez tweeted.
“If I see this girl tomorrow I will tell her how disgusted I am.”
Victoria Azarenka added, “That’s another level of unsportsmanlike conduct. Just wow.”
