Japan's Miyu Kato and Indonesia's Aldila Sutjiadi were disqualified from the French Open after Kato struck a ball down the court between points, hitting a ball girl, during their women's doubles third-round match on Monday (NZ time).
Umpire Alexandre Juge gave Kato a warning before Czech Marie Bouzkova and Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, on the other side of the net, asked for their opponents to be disqualified.
"No, no, let me explain to you. She (Kato) didn't do it on purpose, she (the ball girl) didn't get injured," Juge said.
"She didn't do it on purpose? She's crying," Sorribes Tormo said.
"And she has blood," Bouzkova added, prompting the umpire to go to see the ball girl, who was sobbing.
After speaking to the girl, the umpire went back up to his chair and announced the end of the match with the disqualification of Kato and Sutjiadi.
Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo were leading 7-6(1) 1-3 at the time.
The severe punishment left the broadcasters and social media surprised, especially given Kato didn't strike in the ball in anger.
The situation was in stark contrast to the incident that saw superstar Novak Djokovic kicked out of the US Open back in 2020, when he struck a ball at a lineswoman's throat.
"The umpire originally gave just a warning - it was only when Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo pointed out that the ball girl was crying (and continued to make their case) that the umpire, after a long time and discussion with senior officials, announced the default," tweeted tennis pundit Simon Chambers.
"Brutal call," said tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg. "Ball not hit in anger whatsoever, just hit across to ball girl to keep the match flowing because it was the other team’s turn to serve.
"Ball girl had hands full, reacted late. I hope K/S can appeal and not lose their entire prize money, as happens on defaults."
Reuters/Newshub.
