Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova unleashed on the umpire's chair after her controversial defeat to Greece's Maria Sakkari at the Italian Open on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time).
Pliskova smashed a hole in the umpire's chair in anger after a contentious line call late in her loss to Sakkari in the second round of the Italian Open.
The Czech was locked at a set all, 5-5, and 40-40 in a tense match against the world number 42 in Rome.
Pliskova put away a simple smash which seemed to land on the line to give her a point to lead 6-5.
But to her astonishment, umpire Marta Mrozinska and the line judge called the ball out.
Pliskova duly lost the game to go 6-5 down, and Sakkari served out to win 7-5 in the third set.
But the drama didn't end there. After the players shook hands, Pliskova then took three massive swings with her racquet against the umpire's chair, gouging out a large hole in its side.
The world number six had a number of run-ins with Mrozinska during the heated encounter and now faces a heavy fine from the WTA.
It was the first time Sakkari had beaten a top-five player in her career.
Pliskova's twin sister Kristyna, who is also a professional player, subsequently tweeted: "The worst I have ever seen @wta, and I hope this lady Marta Mrozinska will never ever judge any match of me or Karolina again #blacklistforever."
Newshub.
