Roger Federer’s epic third-round victory over Dominik Koepfer marred by German striding over to Swiss ace’s side of the net and SPITTING on the ball mark after losing crucial point at the French Open
- Koepfer lost his cool after a marginal call at 30-40 in the fourth setÂ
- He strode over to Federer’s side of the net and proceeded to spit on the markÂ
- The umpire spotted his indiscretion and deducted a point from his next game
- Federer finally clinched a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 victory after three hours 35 minutes
Dominik Koepfer was deducted a point for spitting on the court during his epic duel with Roger Federer at the French Open.
The German lost his cool after a marginal call at 30-40 at a vital point in the fourth set which enabled Federer to break serve.
Koepfer strode over to Federer’s side of the net after the decision and proceeded to spit on the mark which the umpire used to show that he had lost the point.Â
Dominik Koepfer was deducted a point for spitting on the court at the French Open
The umpire spotted his indiscretion and immediately deducted a point from the next game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Â
Koepfer, ranked 59, was looking to reach the fourth round at a slam for just the second time having already posted his best result at Roland Garros.
Federer ground out the first set and was twice an early break up in the second but Koepfer kept snapping at the 20-time grand slam champion’s heels, troubling him with the weight of his ball-striking and tenacious play.
The German lost his cool after a marginal call at 30-40 at a vital point in the fourth set
Roger Federer secured a weary victory in three hours 35 minutes and a place in the last 16
It was Koepfer who took the set after an error-strewn tie-break from Federer, and the eighth seed was in a real hole down a break in the third set.
But he pulled it back to 4-4 and clinched the set on another tie-break – it was the first time in Federer’s long grand slam career that he had ever been involved in a match where the first three sets were decided by tie-breaks.
As the clock ticked past midnight, Federer moved a break ahead early in the fourth set only to give the advantage straight back despite Koepfer, who had earlier received a warning, being given a point penalty for spitting on a ball mark.
Koepfer’s resistance ran out when he was broken for 6-5, with Federer, who turns 40 in August, finally clinching a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 victory after three hours 35 minutes,
No fans were allowed to watch the three hour and 35 minute duel due to 9pm curfew
Related Post
