Qatar Open news: Victoria Azarenka accuses Yulia Putintseva of cheating

Victoria Azarenka has accused Yulia Putintseva of cheating in their opening round tie at the Qatar Open after she called her trainer over for medical attention, just before Azarenka was about to serve in the third set.

The high-quality match was dragged down by this outburst as the tie was reaching a climactic point.

Putintseva was leading the match 4-0, before former world No 1 Azarenka pulled it back to 4-4, but Putintseva held on to make it 5-4, and it was at this point when the Belarusian was about to serve to stay in the game in this decider that the Russian-born Kazakhstani called over her trainer.

Aggro:

Putintseva led final set 4-0.

Azarenka came back to 4-4.

Putintseva held for 5-4, then called the trainer.

Azarenka furious as she was about to serve to stay in it. ‘She needs a psychiatrist.’

Azarenka saved match point. Then broke. Then won it 7-5.

The handshake: pic.twitter.com/a1pAGJ0jBD

— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 20, 2022

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Azarenka was left fuming and she marched up to the chair umpire to complain about her opponent’s behaviour, exclaiming: “Before my serve, she can do that. What’s the problem?

“She has to wait for me to serve, she threw her racquet like seven times.

“She needs a mental coach, she needs a psychiatrist.”

Earlier on in the match when she let go of her 4-0 lead, Putintseva did smash a number of racquets in frustration at herself at