'If we're both fit enough, why not?' Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal reaffirm Paris Olympic doubles hopes in Madrid

The Japanese doubles specialist has been the center of an ongoing controversy that began when she accidentally struck a ball girl during her women’s doubles match on Sunday.

ByDavid Kane

Published Jun 06, 2023

THE BREAK: Doubles team disqualified from Roland Garros

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PARIS—Miyu Kato checked in on social media Monday following her triumphant return to action at Roland Garros, partnering Tim Pütz to win a 7-6 (5), 6-2 quarterfinal against Brazilians Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos.

“I want to thank everyone for your continued support,” she tweeted. “I have received a worldwide outpouring of positive energy, and it has raised my spirits tremendously!

“Now I'm onto the mixed doubles semifinals, where I will use every bit of that positive energy to succeed!”

Kato was permitted to continue competing in Paris despite her default from women’s doubles, when she accidentally struck a ball girl with an errant shot while trailing Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-7 (1), 3-1 with partner Aldila Sutjiadi.

I want to thank everyone for your continued support. I have received a worldwide outpouring of positive energy, and it has raised my spirits tremendously!
Now I'm onto the mixed doubles semifinals, where I will use every bit of that positive energy to succeed!
— Miyu Kato / 加藤未唯 (@miyukato1121) June 5, 2023

Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo, who both have denied any wrongdoing or malicious intent, have received widespread criticism for the perception that they instigated the default, which occurred after Kato and Sutjiadi were only initially given a warning by the umpire. Audio from the match feed picked up Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo pointing out that the ball girl in question was crying, and that she may be bleeding.

Tournament referee Rémy Azémar was eventually called to court and the decision was made to default Kato and Sutjiadi.

Kato was still emotional about the incident in her press conference with Pütz, briefly leaving the room and returning to give a quote translated to English by a Japanese journalist.

“She said that when she came to the site today, many players came over to her saying, Put your face ahead, and we are all support you, following you,” she was translated as having said. “That is good for her.

“And, of course, she is here to play tennis, so for today's match she just walked on the court to play tennis, her best tennis.”

Kato and Sutjiadi may face off in the mixed doubles semifinals; she and Pütz await the winner of the quarterfinal between Sutjiadi and Matwé Middelkoop and Chan Hao-Ching and Fabrice Martin.