Heated exchange and no handshake in French Open 'cheating' row

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• Published3 hours ago

Germany's Tamara Korpatsch said it would be "embarrassing" if she had cheated against China's Wang Xinyu following a heated exchange between the pair at the French Open.

Korpatsch refused to shake hands with her opponent after prevailing 6-2 2-6 6-3 in a second-round match overshadowed by lingering tension.

The initial flashpoint came when Wang made her way over to Korpatsch's side of the court to inspect a ball mark, after the chair umpire ruled her shot had landed beyond the baseline.

Wang was booed by the crowd for her actions and received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The point in question was particularly crucial as it gave Korpatsch set point on Wang's serve at the end of the first set.

The disagreement reignited when the players met at the net once the match had finished, with both walking away without the customary handshake.

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Afterwards, Korpatsch rebuked the suggestion by 32nd seed Wang that she was "not a fair player".

Korpatsch said there had been two ball marks, one old and one new, but both were out - a claim supported by the chair umpire and Hawk-Eye.

"The chair umpire came down and showed the mark, and it was out. Also on the TV, they showed the Hawk-Eye and it was like 8mm out. She came on my side because she didn't believe it," Korpatsch said.

"At the end, we didn't have a handshake because she told me she's not OK with the ball marks.

"I can't say I'll gift her the point. I'm a bit surprised because we have a good relationship, we're not enemies.

"I didn't offer her my hand because that's not fair for me. She was unfair to come on my side, and I'm not an unfair player."

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Unlike at the other three Grand Slams, the French Open does not have electronic line calling.

Instead, the surface allows the officials to inspect the marks left by the ball on the clay to assist their decisions.

"I think she said something that she thought that I'm not a fair player or something like that, but I don't know how," added Korpatsch, who plays seventh seed Elina Svitolina next.

"We have one of the best chair umpires on the court and I don't know how to cheat, honestly. There are many cameras on court and they can check everything.

"For me, it would be embarrassing to cheat like that."

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