Amy Foster
New User
Konta raged a volley of abuse at the umpire with an astonishing torrent of F-words and other expletives.
Johanna Konta is facing disciplinary action after a heated outburst after she lost out to Ashleigh Barty 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the final of the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham.The Australian born player unleashed a torrent of abuse at the umpire, who did not overrule the line judge who called a ball out which Konta though was in and ordered a point to be replayed, the heated discussion with the umpire, seemed to affected her concentration.She was broken in the next game to give Barty a 6-3 3-6 6-4 win and did not shake the umpire's hand at the end.Konta lost the opening set .But she got back into the match and levelled it at one set apiece, The Briton, who is now ranked 22 in the world after a poor first half of the year, was looking to maintain her momentum in the decider. being 4-1 down she got it 4-4 before her emotions boiled over.The 27-year-old raged It's an absolute joke. 'No - you listen to me now, youlisten to me now do you understand, we out here busting you don't care. You're making decisions that affect our lives. Do you fully understand that? do you understand that, walking back to sit in her seat by the umpire's chair at the changes of ends she continued to rage, " I can't do anything if the line judge calls it . "disgraceful. At least replay the point." Where is the Hawkeye we are on grass not clay, you don't judge by chalk on grass, some line judge changes the whole match and you allow it to happen. Well done, well done, well done. Konta, who then had to serve to stay in the match, won only one more point as Barty clinched victory with a backhand pass.The Brit then stormed off court, with organisers rushing to get her back for the trophy presentation. At her post-match interview, she was apologetic for the language she had used, but did not appear to regret criticising the umpire. She said: "I am sorry for the language. If you lose it at any other occupation you do not get shown live but in sport you do. The WTA disciplinary committee, the tournament supervisors, will decide whether to fine her It will have an umpire's report to consider. The man who is known as voice of Wimbledon commentary David Mercer, who was commentating on the match for eurosport said It didn't make any sense," mercer, now a freelance commentator said . "She let the situation get under her skin and it's an embarrassing way for her to walk off court. Maybe she has let her poor results in matches this season so far get to her and it all got too much for her . It not looking for Konta with Wimbledon fast approaching Mercer added that he had some sympathy for Konta and believed the point should have been replayed. However, he felt the player's reaction was counter-productive and one which will almost certainly cost her a heavy fine. "I was counting the thousands seing how long it went on and I reckon she is looking at the maximum fine of £6,000 she is 27 a big girl and she will have to live with the consequences of that She is an experienced professional and she should have known better but in sport emotions run high and there is a fine line between nerves that hurt you and adrenalin which pumps you up." Konta's string of expletives were clearly audible to those at courtside and to the TV audience. The 80 year old veteran commenter said: "I would like to apologise on behalf of Johanna for the appalling language."A spokesperson for Eurosport later added: "We do our best to avoid swearing but in a live broadcast there is always a danger. We apologise for any offence caused."The outburst has come just a few weeks after Konta was fined after she swore during a press conference after her first round defeat at the French Open.Konta was angry at constant pre-tournament negativity about her record at the French Open where she had lost all three of her previous main draw matches was unfair and not helpful. She was fined over $1,000 (£900 for the use of profanities.
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