Defending champion Julia Goerges has reached the ASB Classic women's tennis quarter-finals, but had a few choice words for match officials during her straight-sets win over German countrywoman Mona Barthel.
On the scoreboard, Georges had to work for her 6-4 6-4 result over 1h 23m, booking an encounter with Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in Friday's round-of-eight.
But the charismatic second seed and world number 14 - a regular at this tournament since 2010 - lost her composure with the umpire and tournament referee in the dying stages, when the chair official overruled an 'out' call and awarded a point to Barthel.
Georges had heard the call and stopped playing the point, and was furious when the decision went against her, insisting the point should be replayed.
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Tournament referee David Smith intervened, but refused to overrule the umpire, sending Goerges further over the edge.
"What are you here for, to walk me onto the court?" she blurted. "I can do that for myself."
The German refrained from taking the issue further afterwards.
"I think you guys can see it on the replay," she said afterwards. "I don't need to explain it right now, but I think something happens like this."
Bouchard had to battle much harder against plucky Dutch qualifier Bibiane Schoofs for her quarter-final berth, prevailing 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-4 over 2h 36m.
The former world number five, currently languishing at 87, had ample opportunity to put her rival away, repeatedly breaking serve, but unable to capitalise.
The turning point seemed to come late in the second set, when coach Michael Joyce questioned her attitude and challenged her to lift.
Elsewhere, third seed Su-Wei Hsieh of China Taipei overcame Olympic champion Monica Puig to reach the quarter-finals, where she will take on Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Thursday's schedule sees a continuation of second-round matches, with Danish top seed Caroline Wozniacki facing Canadian qualifier Bianca Andreescu in the evening session.
Czech fifth seed Barbora Strycova takes on promising American teenager Amanda Anisimova - the youngest player in the world's top 100 - while former world number one Venus Williams must topple former ASB Classic champion Lauren Davis.
Order of Play - Thursday, January 3
Centrecourt
Noon start
Viktoria Kuzmova (Slovakia) vs Sofia Kenin (USA)
(5) Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) vs (WC) Amanda Anisimova (USA)
(4) Xinyun Han (China)/Darija Jurak (Croatia) vs Timea Babos (Hungary)/Julia Goerges (Germany)
7pm start
(WC) Lauren Davis (USA) vs (6) Venus Williams (USA)
(1) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) vs (Q) Bianca Andreescu (Canada)
Court Two
4pm start
Arantxa Parra Santonja (Spain)/Jil Teichmann (Switzerland) vs Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium)/Johanna Larsson (Sweden)
Newshub.
