‘For the people’: Aussie Ellen Perez knocks doubles villains out of French Open

Aussie player Ellen Perez is the toast of the tennis world after she got the last laugh over the villains of the French Open.

Aussie Ellen Perez is into the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the French Open, knocking out the pair that sparked a tennis furore this week.

Perez and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 7-5 6-3 in their quarterfinal.

Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova became the villains of the tennis world after they lobbied for their third round opponents to be defaulted from the grand slam for accidentally hitting a ballkid.

They were leading 7-6 1-3 against Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato when drama hit their match at Roland Garros.

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After a ball landed at the net, Kato picked it up and lobbed it gently with a one-handed backhand towards a ballgirl at the other end of the court.

But unfortunately the ball hit the ballgirl in the chest and she was in clear discomfort.

Ellen Perez sent the doubles villains packing. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Sara Sorribes Tormo’s tournament is over. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

The chair umpire gave Kato a warning but their opponents Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo argued that Kato and Sutjiadi should be disqualified, or defaulted from the match.

A supervisor came out and the match ended then and there in dramatic scenes as 16th seeds Sutjiadi and Kato were defaulted from the tournament.

The tennis world was stunned by the harsh disqualification, while Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo were slammed for their sportsmanship, or lack thereof, in pushing for Kato and Sutjiadi to be defaulted.

Fans said Sorribes Tormo had been hit by the “karma bus” when she subsequently lost her fourth round singles match, and the sentiment was similar when Perez and Melichar ended her tournament.

Bouzkova 🇨🇿 & Sorribes-Tormo 🇪🇸 out of the doubles 5-7 3-6 to Melichar-Martinez 🇺🇸 & Perez 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/NKrC8eAXsr

— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) June 6, 2023

rooting HARD for Ellen Perez rn end those witchesss pic.twitter.com/a42EReWxEn

— terczminatorkacz (@jazdahubi) June 6, 2023

Bouzkova & Sorribes Tormo fit squarely into the what's-wrong-with-sports column, and though I'd never heard of them until five minutes ago, I'm thrilled that they got eliminated from the French Open today. Jerks.

— Jamey Newberg (@NewbergReport) June 6, 2023

Another grand slam doubles semi final for Shellharbour’s @EllenPerez95

🇦🇺 Ellen Perez / 🇺🇸 Nicole Melichar-Martinez 7-5 6-3 def Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo at @rolandgarrospic.twitter.com/Y7XhPzsdoT

— Rory Macdonald (@Rorymacram) June 6, 2023

Perez was well aware of the tennis discourse, replying to a tweet of the result: “For the people!!!” with a flex emoji.

Perez and Melichar have equalled their best result a grand slam after they also made it to the final four at last year’s US Open.

Meanwhile, Miyu Kato is still alive in the mixed doubles after French Open ruled she was allowed to continue playing in that event despite the default in the women’s doubles.

Miyu and Tim Putz have progressed to the semi-finals of the mixed doubles, and you get the sense tennis fans will be cheering her all the way.

Ellen Perez equalled her best result at a grand slam. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

In a bizarre turn of events, she will face off against her women’s doubles partner Sutjiadi in the mixed semi-final, so one of them will reach a grand slam final.

The Japanese player has regularly posted on Twitter since the controversy, and said she has been uplifted by messages of support from fans.

Miyu posted: “Thank you for your cont’d support and heartfelt messages. It’s Greatly Appreciated!

“Congratulations to Aldila for winning today!

“Keeping Positive & moving forward, I’ll have a Great Semi-Final against my Wonderful Friend and Competitor, Aldila. May the Best Team win! :-)”

Perhaps the tennis gods are watching down on Roland Garros after all.

Originally published as ‘For the people’: Aussie Ellen Perez knocks doubles villains out of French Open