Crybaby taunt from Roger Federer's wife prompted Wawrinka row
Video picks up a woman heckling Stan Wawrinka player during semi-final against Federer
More details of what prompted the row between Roger Federer and compatriot Stan Wawrinka at the ATP World Tour finals in London have emerged, with Federer's "feisty" wife, Mirka, blamed for sparking the dispute.
Video apparently showing Mirka heckling Wawrinka from the player's box and calling him a "crybaby" during his three set defeat to Federer has emerged as the two men try to patch up their differences ahead of Switzerland's Davis Cup final against France.
The pair were apparently involved in a ten-minute stand-up row after the match as a result of the heckling, which prompted an angry response from Wawrinka at the time, with umpire Cedric Mourier begging him to calm down. He also appears to look at Federer as he asks: "What did she say?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wawrinka was "agitated by Mirka's habit of shouting out encouragement for her husband between first and second serves, in a breach of tennis etiquette", reports the Daily Telegraph.
In addition to his reaction in the video, The Times says that Wawrinka also complained: "She did the same thing at Wimbledon."
The presence of Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi in Federer's box – he is one of his coaches – may also have irked Wawrinka, notes the Daily Mail.
The incident took place as tensions ran high at the O2 after Wawrinka wasted three match points during his epic showdown with Federer.
Neither player has spoken about the incident and they appear to have patched up their differences, at least in the short term, with both looking forward to the Davis Cup, the only major trophy Federer has not won during his career.
Wawrinka, though, exacted a small measure of revenge by making a bunny-ears geture behind Federer's head as they posed for a picture with the rest of the Swiss team, and posted on Federer's Twitter account, after arriving in France.
"The pair used to be close friends and Wawrinka credited Federer with aiding his development," reports the Times. "However, Wawrinka's rise up the rankings has changed the dynamic. He is also a complicated soul with a Samuel Beckett tattoo to prove it, and it remains to be seen how he will react this week.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
LeBron, Bronny James make dad-son NBA debut
Speed Read Basketball star LeBron James and his son LeBron Jr. made history by playing together in the Lakers' preseason game
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel marks Oct. 7 attack, hits Lebanon, Gaza
Speed Read It has been one year since Hamas attacked Israel festival goers, sparking an escalating conflict in the Middle East
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Florida braces for Milton as FEMA tackles Helene, lies
Speed Read A flurry of misinformation has been spread about the federal response to Hurricane Helene
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Roger Federer’s retirement: an end to a ‘magical era’
Talking Point The Laver Cup will be the Swiss national’s final competitive appearance
By The Week Staff Published
-
Roger Federer and the ‘GOAT’ debate
Talking Point Tennis luminaries line up to declare the Swiss the greatest of all time
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal: grand slam wins, big titles and career records
Why Everyone’s Talking About Djokovic scooped his first Olympic gold in Paris this summer to match Rafael Nadal's win at Beijing 2008
By Mike Starling, The Week UK Last updated
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
‘Sad day for tennis’: is this the end of Roger Federer’s glittering career?
Today's Big Question 40-year-old Swiss maestro will have a third operation on his right knee
By Mike Starling Published
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published