Roger Federer’s fights with umpires

Roger Federer is highly regarded by players and fans alike to be one of the calmest and cool players on the tour. A testament to this fact is that he has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsman award 11 times.

But sometimes during his career, the heat of the moment has caught up with the 17 time Grand Slam champion as illustrated by the Dismantling of his racquet at the 2009 Indian Wells Final.

In this article, we look at the few occasions when Roger Federer got into fights with umpires.

Match situation: In this high voltage clash with Rafael Nadal, contrary to all expectations took the first set 7-5 at Rafa’s home ground in this Madrid masters semifinal. In the second set, Rafa leads 1-0 (on serve) and roger is serving at 30-40.

The Incident: Nadal hits a heavy topspin crosscourt forehand to Federer’s backhand. Federer immediately stopped play as there was no call from the linesman. Roger Federer had already circled the mark. But the umpire Mohamed Lahyani on reaching the spot claimed that the mark was a different one, the one which had clipped the line. Roger stated that there was no way that this was the mark. On Lahyani’s reminder that the line judge had called it good, Roger rudely replied: “You think he has a clue?”.

Federer followed the umpire to his chair and on being told by the umpire that he too saw the ball good, Roger retorted by claiming that “you (Mohamed Lahyani) don’t see it good”(since the ball landed on the far sideline). Ultimately the point was given to Rafael Nadal. TV replays using the Hawkeye technology (which are not used in clay court matches) showed that the ball was good.

Aftermath: Roger Federer lost the match 5-7 6-1 6-3 losing 10 of the 14 games after the incident. In the post-match press conference, Federer admitted that the decision had an effect on the match.

“If it goes my way it’s obviously huge, if it goes his way it’s huge, Look, at the end of the day I don’t know how it was. I don’t care anymore, it’s in the past.”

Match situation: In this round of 16 match against his Swiss mate Stanislas Wawrinka Roger won the first set comfortably 6-3 but due to lack of breakpoint conversion (5 out of 15 for the match) lost the second set 7-6 in the tiebreaker. In the third set roger Federer is serving at 0-1 and the score is 0-30.

The Incident: Roger hits a sharp wide serve on the deuce court. Stan hits a heavy forehand down the middle of the court and Federer approaching towards the net hits his forehand into the net. Federer raises his hand to challenge as he thought that his serve was wide. The umpire denies the challenge stating that Roger hit “one shot too many”. Roger argued that “it happened all to quick”. Federer also blatantly dismissed the line call and reminded the umpire that he could challenge his own call.The umpire said that he knew the rules but, in this case, he could not allow the challenge.Frustrated with the decision Federer asked the umpire to call the match referee.The umpire explained the situation to the referee.Roger insisted that he was a man of principles and asked the referee whether he thought the ball was good or not?The referee told Federer that the final decision lies with the umpire and an angry Federer moved on to play the next point.

Federer also blatantly dismissed the line call and reminded the umpire that he could challenge his own call. The umpire said that he knew the rules but, in this case, he could not allow the challenge. Frustrated with the decision Federer asked the umpire to call the match referee. The umpire explained the situation to the referee. Roger insisted that he was a man of principles and asked the referee whether he thought the ball was good or not? The referee told Federer that the final decision lies with the umpire and an angry Federer moved on to play the next point.

Aftermath: Though roger lost the particular game yet he went on to win the match claiming the final set 6-4. In the post-match press conference ironically, Federer claimed that he won the match probably because he’s calm in close situations.

Match situation: In this final against the inexperienced Juan Martin del Potro-Federer was completely dominant for the 1 set and three-quarters as he led 6-3 and was serving for the set at 5-4 and the score was 30-30 when a deep forehand which was called out by the linesperson was challenged by del Potro and he won the point (as the ball had clipped the line). So instead of getting a set point Federer faced a break point and ultimately lost the set 7-6.This probably had to do a lot with his outburst at 4-4 (Federer serving, advantage to Federer) in the third set.

The Incident: Del Potro’s return at the left near sideline was called out by the linesperson. This meant that Roger had won the game and both the players moved towards the chair for the change of ends. Delpotro asked the umpire for his views o the call and Jake Garner told him that it was a close call.

After a delay del Potro challenge and this instigated Federer and he told the umpire that he could not allow the challenge as previously in the tournament he was not allowed to challenge after a couple of seconds and del Potro took more than 10 seconds. Federer went on to ask the umpire “if they had any rules” and on being told by the umpire he went ballistic and told the umpire “Don’t tell me to be quiet, okay? When I want to talk, I’ll talk. I don’t give an s*** what he said.”

Aftermath: Federer eventually went on to lose the match which later on went to be called as The Hawk Eye final. Federer was fined $1500 for swearing at the umpire.

Match situation: Tomas Berdych had taken the first set 6-3 in the final of the only tournament to take place on blue clay. In  the second set, Roger Federer was 3-0 up in the second set with Tomas Berdych serving.

The Incident: Roger Federer played a brilliantly  disguised drop shot of the backhand wing. Thomas Berdych defying all odds made a forehand lift shot and Federer missed the incoming backhand passing shot. Federer argued with the umpire Mohammed Lahyani that the shot Berdych made was my fact a double bounce and supported his claim by stating that  the ball contained topspin which was only possible if the ball had bounced twice before coming on the racquet.

Aftermath: Though Roger Federer’s serve was broken in the next game, he went on to win the match. Replays showed that the ball and indeed bounced twice before hitting Berdych’s racquet.

Match situation: Roger Federer was leading Rafa 2 sets to 1 with Nadal up a break in the fourth. Previous calls in this match had not gone in Rogers favour and that may have contributed in this outburst.

The Incident: Nadal played a brilliant inside-out forehand down the line which prompted a weak Federer reply. He followed it up by another one down the Line but it was called long. Nadal challenged and the ball kissed the line (1mm). Federer was utterly shocked and went on to the umpire to claim that the ball was surely long. The umpire said he too thought the ball was long but the Hawkeye pointed to the contrary.

A dejected Federer lost his serve again.On the changeover, he told the empire that he was happy at the first place that Nadal challenged as he would ‘burn’ as Federer was completely sure the ball was out. Then a childish voice that bordered to being funny he asked himself “how in the world that ball could be in”.

Aftermath: Federer lost the fourth set yet he won the match. Federer’s stance against the Hawkeye was further strengthened (as this technology was introduced in the slams recently) which led to many disputes with umpires in the future.