Russian tennis player Irina Khromacheva has launched an extraordinary rant at China Open organisers after losing her doubles match. Teaming with compatriot Anna Danilina, the pair were well beaten 6-3 6-2 by Karolina Muchova and Paula Badosa.
But no sooner has they sealed their win, than Muchova and Badosa were withdrawing from the doubles event, handing a walkover in the next round to Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-ching.
The two players are both still in the singles competition, and have seemingly opted to concentrate on their last-16 matches.
The development has prompted fury from Khromacheva, 29, who took to social media to vent her feelings. “Bravo WTA. We lost to singles players in doubles in the Beijing tournament,” she wrote on Instagram.
“And second round they are pulling out cause they don’t care about doubles, but they continue to play singles this week. Completely crazy them taking place of teams who could enter and participate fully.”
She went on to reveal it wasn’t the first time this had happened to her this season, and accused her opponents of a lack of respect. “I’ve had this situation twice this year when they won in the first round they pulled out without respect to doubles players.
“And also for people who are signing on-site trying to get in……very nice rule. Plus tournament losing one match on the schedule. Respect on the WTA tour, didn’t hear it exists… CRAZY.”
Czech player Muchova will take on Cristina Bucsa on Wednesday. Prior to that, 15th seed Badosa, from Spain, will take on one of the pre-tournament favourites in Jessica Pegula.
Khromacheva is ranked 889 in the world. But she is more renowned for her play on the doubles circuit, ranked no.28 having twice reached the US Open quarter-finals, most recently this season.
She previously hit the headline for the wrong reasons in 2019, suspended for three months and fined more than £2,200 by the International Tennis Integrity Unit after being found guilty of attempting to contrive the outcome of a first round qualifying match at the Indian Wells Open.
The 2024 Guadalajara Open Akron winner was accused of offering a player her spot in exchange for cash. She declined to contest the decision but immediately returned to the WTA Tour when her ban expired.
