Roger Federer fined $3,000 for audible obscenity against Tennys Sandgren

The 20-time Major champion Roger Federer will leave one of four most significant tournaments with less money than he earned only for the second time in a career, fined $3,000 for using an audible obscenity in the quarter-final of the Australian Open. Facing Tennys Sandgren, Roger had to save seven match points in the fourth set before prevailing 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 31 minutes, advancing into the 15th semi-final in Melbourne. Back in the final of the 2009 US Open, Federer was also penalized for swearing against Juan Martin del Potro, fined again more than ten years later after losing a temper a little bit in the third set of that clash with Sandgren on Tuesday. The Swiss star received a code violation when a lineswoman reported him to the chair umpire Marijana Veljovic, who then issued the warning.

Federer claimed the opening set before losing ground in the second, struggling with a groin injury and playing way below his usual level in the third set when he received a medical timeout away from the court. Frustrated a little bit, the Swiss threw some bad words and received a warning from Veljovic, speaking with her for a couple of seconds and again during the break and continuing the match without further problems. When the painkillers started to work, Federer recovered in set number four enough to stay in touch, somehow saving those seven match points in the tenth game and at 3-6 in the tie break to stay alive and force a decider where he had all the momentum, bringing the victory home and producing a marvelous comeback that he only achieved one in the past, back in 2003!

"She speaks mixed languages," Federer said. "Didn't know that. Next time I got to check the lines people. Honestly, to be frustrated at one point for over, I don't know, 15 hours, I think it's normal. I found it a bit tough; it's not like I'm known to throw around words and whatever. It's not like the whole stadium heard it either. But no problem, I'll accept it."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RBpHZK