News

Tomljanovic accuses Ostapenko of lying in stormy Wimbledon win

July 3, 2021 10:02 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic accused Wimbledon opponent Jelena Ostapenko of "lying" on Saturday on her way to making the fourth round for the first time.

Tomljanovic was furious that 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko called the trainer at 0-4 in the final set, claiming she was suffering from an abdominal injury. 

"You know she's lying, right? We all know," the 28-year-old Australian told the chair umpire.

"Are you taking into any consideration that she looked fine?"

The medical timeout resulted in a 10-minute delay before the match resumed and Tomljanovic clinched a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win.

The pair then had an angry exchange at the net at the end of the third round clash.

"She can say she was injured. I don't think she was," said Tomljanovic.

"There was nothing wrong with her the whole match, but then why on 4-0 she calls it? So I think that that's a clear reason that she just wanted to get me off my game.

"Then to top it all off, for her to call me disrespectful at the end of the match is laughable. 

"I think it's disgraceful behaviour from someone that is a Slam champion, because kids look at her and they see that? I'm sorry, if she was injured, she could have gone about it in a way better way."

Saturday's incident brought back unhappy memories for Tomljanovic.

In the 2019 WTA final at Hua Hin in Thailand, she was 5-2 up in the decider when Ukraine opponent Dayana Yastremska called a medical time out for a leg injury.

The delay caused the Australian to lose momentum and, eventually, the match.

Tomljanovic said she was getting increasingly frustrated with medical timeouts being used as a ploy.

"The fact that she did it at 4-0 today when I was about to serve, that's disrespectful. 

"I'm just honestly tired of it. I'm tired of it happening and seeing it happen. We can do better than that."

Ostapenko, the world number 34 and a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2018, insisted her injury was genuine and that the pain had become increasingly worse as the match wore on.

"I think it was very disrespectful what she did. I mean, how can you say "liar" or something if you know zero about my injury," said the Latvian.

"You cannot say that. In front of everybody, call me liar? I don't think it's respectful from her side. 

"So that's what I said, you are a very bad player because of this behaviour. That's it. You are winning, but it does not mean you can do everything you want."

Tomljanovic, the world number 75, will face British wildcard Emma Raducanu on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

However, Ostapenko, who was the champion in Eastbourne on the eve of Wimbledon, insisted that had she been fully fit, she would have comfortably made the last 16.

"I think my level today was not good after the first set, because if I played at least 50% I would have beaten her," she said.

 

 



Most Read

  1. 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge 20 passengers perish in Chilas bus plunge
  2. Daughters defend Bushra Bibi Daughters defend Bushra Bibi
  3. Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction Pakistani-origin woman laid off by Elon Musk gives emotional reaction
  4. Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off Pakistan's historic moon mission aboard China rocket blasts off
  5. The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed! The Great Indian Kapil Show: Astonishing per-episode fees of cast revealed!
  6. And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans And they lived happily ever after! Ishq Murshid's last episode sparks joy among fans

Opinion

  1. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  2. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  3. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  4. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  5. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  6. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai