It was supposed to be another bright day of women’s tennis in Chennai** — a week defined by resilience, local heroes, and breakthrough performances.
Yet, Wednesday’s match involving Britain’s Eden Silva turned from competition to confrontation after her on-court argument with the chair umpire spiralled into controversy.
The phrase she reportedly uttered — “So basically she is cheating, and you are allowing her to do that? I have never seen anything like this before” — has since echoed far beyond the walls of SDAT Stadium.
What happened — and why is it breaking?
After what had been a thrilling day at the WTA 250 Chennai Open, which saw 19 matches successfully completed despite weather interruptions earlier in the week, a few minor disagreements between players and umpires seemed routine.
But this one was different — and impossible to ignore.
So, what exactly happened? Watch the video, and you’ll understand why we’ve decided to break this story first!
#BIGGSPORTSNEWSEXCLUSIVE
The Match
The doubles encounter featured Maaya & Akdar versus Silva & Anshba, the final match of the day on Court 3 at SDAT Tennis Stadium.
The score stood at 6–6 when Silva served. According to Silva’s perspective, the return from Maaya’s team went out, and the line umpire signalled “out.” Believing the point was theirs, Silva stopped play and did not return the ball.
However, to her shock, the chair umpire awarded the point to Maaya and Akdar’s team. Silva immediately protested, claiming the ball was clearly out.
Visibly upset, she approached the umpire, shouting:
“I have never seen anything like this in my life!”
Silva then demanded to speak to the supervisor, after which a WTA official came to the court. To her frustration, the supervisor backed the umpire’s judgment.
That’s when Silva reportedly exclaimed:
“She is cheating us, and you are allowing her to do that!”
The heated exchange ended with the umpire’s original decision standing — a call Silva and her partner Anshba strongly disagreed with.
Who might face the backlash?
If this issue gains wider attention, SDAT could face some negative remarks locally and domestically — not for direct involvement, but because of its visibility as the event’s host and promoter.
In Chennai, SDAT’s social media campaigns have played a major role in drawing spectators to the tournament.
“My friends shared a post from SDAT, and that’s how we decided to come,” said one group of local fans we spoke to.
This shows SDAT’s growing influence in urban areas and its success in connecting the public to sports events. However, incidents like this can leave a lasting impression — especially when emotions and fairness are questioned on court.
Aftermath
According to sources, Silva and Anshba, who lost their first-round match, will not continue in the tournament and are flying back soon.
One spectator close to the incident told us:
“Silva asked if the video of the argument could be made public.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether any further action will be taken by WTA officials.
