British qualifier Naomi Broady shocks Ana Ivanovic in ASB Classic

Surprise ASB Classic quarter-finalist Naomi Broady insists her opponent Jelena Ostapenko should have defaulted their match after a racquet throwing incident today.

“I think it was quite clear that she threw her racquet and it hit a ballkid…which should be [instant] disqualification”, said Broady.

“I love being in Auckland for the ASB Classic and I really want to come back in 2017 and give the title another go”, she said.

The British No 3 claimed the Latvian should have been disqualified when she threw her racquet in frustration and saw it bounce off the ground and hit a ball boy during the second set tiebreak.

“Jelena commented that my behaviour was awful, which I thought was a bit out of order considering the events that had gone on in the match”, said Broady of the row.

Ana Ivanovic may be one of tennis’s brightest stars but to Naomi Broady’s friends, she’s better known as the girlfriend of Manchester United star Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Tensions were high, adrenalin was going so we had a bit of a confrontation.

Watching Broady play in this match, it was remarkable to think she’s ranked as low as 122 in the world.

A WTA supervisor is called on court to sort out the incident, which results in Ostapenko being let off with a warning from the chair umpire.

She was heard saying: “You’ll see on the replay, there’s no way it was accidental”.

WTA rules state that “players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person…for the purposes of this rule, physical abuse is the unauthorised touching of an official, opponent and spectator or other person”.

Broady, 25, argued that her 18-year-old opponent should be disqualified after the racquet hit a ball boy, but Ostapenko was given a code violation.

“My coach said before the match the biggest thing would be believing you could win”, Broady said. “I don’t think it was good behaviour”.

The match itself contained no shortage of drama, with Broady fighting back from a set and 2-5 and then 1-5 in the deciding set, saving two match points.