There is a fine line that athletes have to tread these days, one that could catapult them into infamy with one wrong move. Czech tennis player Marie Bouzkova found that out the hard way recently. Bouzkova finally opened up about the incident that saw her go from being a sweetheart to a villain.
Unfortunately, Bouzkova might be the most hated tennis player on the circuit right now. However, it is a fact that she has accepted in order to move on from the incident.
Bouzkova shared how she still receives hate on her social media posts, dragging the incident that occurred at Roland-Garros in June. Marie adds that she has never been at the receiving end of something like this. “It’s still pretty hard for me because I’ve never been in such a situation where I feel like I’m the bad person,” (via Tennis-Infinity.com).
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Bouzkova is not the only athlete to receive hate. Recently world number one Iga Swiatek spoke about how much hate she and her team have been receiving. Her psychologist Daria Abramowicz has also received hate from fans.
Iga’s peer Ons Jabeur has also spoken about receiving hate. Jabeur even praised Swiatek for speaking up about it. Ons added that players receive hate no matter what they do. It is an unfortunate reality.
Online harassment is something that can be monitored but is difficult to stop completely. Athletes eventually learn to take it on the chin and move on, like Bouzkova did.
What caused Marie Bouzkova and her doubles partner to receive so much hate?
The incident took place during their doubles match at Roland Garros earlier this year. Marie was playing a doubles match against Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi, with her partner Sara Sorribes Tormo when something unfortunate happened. Kato accidentally hit a ball girl, and they ended up getting a default.
Kato and Sutjiadi were behind a set but they had managed to break Tormo and Bouzkova. However, at the start of the fifth game of the second set, Kato hit a backhand which struck the ball girl.
Kato and her partner were initially given a warning. But Bouzkova and Tormo pointed out that the girl was crying and perhaps bleeding too. The match referee was called on court and after much deliberation, defaulted Kato and Sutjiadi.
The tennis community felt it was a harsh decision, but Marie and Sara were in favor of it. That was the catalyst for all the hate they have been receiving since then. The cameras had caught Tormo and Bouzkova smiling, which led to fans thinking they instigated this.
Bouzkova and Tormo had also received condemnation from their fraternity. “It’s so easy to misinterpret when something goes viral, and that’s something we don’t have much influence on,” said Marie.
Bouzkova has weathered the hatred like a seasoned sailor. She has let her performances speak for her. Marie Bouzkova defeated Montreal champion Jessica Pegula and will be seen at the US Open next.