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Ida Wobker Defaulted From Wimbledon Junior Match After Racket-Throwing Incident

Tournament referees invoked ITF equipment-abuse rules to declare the default, with reports differing on whether the racket struck a spectator.

Overview

  • Wobker, 15, was defaulted after she angrily threw her racket during a first-round girls' match she trailed 6-0, 5-5 on Saturday.
  • The chair umpire stopped play, summoned a supervisor and awarded Maria Valentina Pop the match by default.
  • Match statistics published after the incident show Wobker made 44 unforced errors, 11 double faults and entered Wimbledon ranked 24th in the ITF junior standings.
  • Coverage differs on whether the racket hit a spectator: some outlets report it rebounded into the crowd while others say it is unclear and officials reported no injuries after checking spectators.
  • Wobker returned days later to win a girls' doubles match with Denisa Zoldakova to reach the round of 16, and the case underscores that ITF rules allow immediate defaults and heavy fines for violent racket or equipment abuse.