Kato’s Appeal for Roland-Garros Prize Money and Points Is Denied

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday June 15, 2023

Miyu Kato’s appeal to have ranking points and prize money reinstated after being defaulted from her third-round women’s doubles match has been denied.

The 28-year-old Japanese, who inadvertently hit a ball girl with a tennis ball and was disqualified from her doubles match, along with partner Aldila Sutjiadi, has lost her appeal.

My first match on grass didn’t go as expected.

The French Open (Roland Garros) fined me as well as rejecting my appeal for getting my prize money and points so all I can do is to keep looking forwards.

Next stop → Berlin🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/xFv3Z4RkUT

— Miyu Kato / 加藤 未唯 (@miyukato1121) June 15, 2023

Kato made headlines in Paris when she was disqualified, with many claiming that her opponents, Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, behaved poorly by pleading to have the pair defaulted when they noticed that the ball girl who was hit was crying.

Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo’s efforts helped sway the umpire’s decision and also released a torrent of venom from the tennis community who believed the decision was unjust, and the punishment didn’t fit the crime.

With karma working in her favor, Kato paired with Tim Puetz to win the mixed doubles title in Paris.

Though she forfeits 43,000 euros in doubles prize money, the tournament was still a net positive, as she split 122,000 euros with Puetz, giving her a haul of 61,000 euros for the mixed.