Roger Federer shares why he argued with umpire Carlos Bernardes
Roger Federer argued with the chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during his third round match in Rome against Borna Coric. The Swiss was not happy with the court condition.
"I don't quite understand how players just go with it", said Federer. "They water the court, call time, players kind of check the lines. They're like, Okay, I guess we can play. The lines are wet. Wet lines mean you slide. When I slid, caught myself, I did hurt my toe for like two games. My leg also was hurting a little bit. I don't know. I just don't understand. They don't make us play because Carlos told me, You don't have to play. I told him, Why did you call time? You make us stand there and feel the pressure from 10,000 people and a live audience. The player will always cave at the end, say, I guess I have to play. Can't wait. It's going to take five minutes basically. That's what it's going to take until the lines are dry. I don't think we should play with wet lines. Nobody wants an injured player because of something silly like this just to keep the match going. That's why I thought it was great what the ball kids did, to dry the lines. It's quickly done. I know it's a bit of a pain to do it. It's for the safety of the players. That's just what I was referring to. How about just we sit here and then you call us rather than calling us and I have to make the call? I'll just keep playing because that's what you do by looking at the line for the fifth time, still seeing that it's wet. I don't know. I can't go sit down again. The show must go on. That's really what it was about. I'm amazed how the players are, Okay, we'll play with wet lines. It's been going on like this for years. I've always thought it's dangerous with wet lines."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2VFLyOu
No comments