Video: Karolina Pliskova attacks umpire’s chair with racquet

Former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova was in no mood to shake hands with the chair umpire after losing her Miami Open second-round match against Maria Sakkari yesterday.

The Times reports that “controversy abounded” in Miami when a Pliskova smash in the deciding set was wrongly called out “despite clearly landing in”. 

Sakkari was awarded the point, says the BBC, after no “physical marks” could be found on the clay after the line-call review. The point happened in the final set when Pliskova was serving at 30-30 and five games all. 

This led to the Czech star to lose the match against Greece’s Sakkari 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and when the players walked off court the No.6 seed decided against shaking hands with Polish umpire Marta Mrozinska. She then hit her racquet against the umpire’s chair “several times”, USA Today reports, leaving a gaping hole.

During the match Pliskova had argued with the official on several occasions and after her furious reaction the Times says her coach Tomas Krupa “stuck his middle finger up at live TV cameras” and her twin sister Kristyna called for Mrozinska to be “blacklisted”.

USA Today adds that no punishment or fine has yet to be announced by the Women’s Tennis Association.

On social media some tennis fans think Pliskova should be suspended while others say that the umpire and line judge should face action.

We look at the Twitter reaction:

Karolina Pliskova’s twin sister Kristyna is also a tennis player.

Pliskova “unleashes rage”.

“Four blows of her racquet.”

“This behaviour can not be tolerated.”

“Nothing justifies destroying the umpire’s chair.”

“Umpire and line judge were shockingly bad.”