Roger Federer- “I Don’t Think We Should Play With Wet Lines”

World Number three, Roger Federer played a captivating pre-quarterfinal match at the Italian Open 2019 against the Croatian, Borna Coric. Before he withdrew from his quarterfinal match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Swiss made a note of the slippery conditions of the court during the match.

Roger Federer exchanged words with the chair umpire during the match regarding the wet markings of the tennis court which were causing hindrance during the play. “I don’t quite understand how players just go with it,” Roger Federer mentioned. “They water the court, call time, players kind of check the lines. They’re like, Okay, I guess we can play”.

“The lines are wet. Wet lines mean you slide. When I slid, caught myself, I did hurt my toe for like two games. My leg also was hurting a little bit. I don’t know. I just don’t understand,”  Roger Federer continued.

It unsafe for the tennis players to play with such conditions for the court. However, the wet lines were quickly wiped by the ball kids. “I don’t think we should play with wet lines. Nobody wants an injured player because of something silly like this just to keep the match going. That’s why I thought it was great what the ball kids did, to dry the lines. It’s quickly done. I know it’s a bit of a pain to do it. It’s for the safety of the players”, Roger Federer mentioned.

He continued to speak about the tournament organizers. “That’s just what I was referring to. How about just we sit here and then you call us rather than calling us and I have to make the call? I’ll just keep playing because that’s what you do by looking at the line for the fifth time, still seeing that it’s wet. I don’t know. I can’t go sit down again. The show must go on”.

Roger Federer mentioned about those players who don’t mind the wet conditions and keep playing the match. “That’s really what it was about. I’m amazed how the players are, Okay, we’ll play with wet lines. It’s been going on like this for years. I’ve always thought it’s dangerous with wet lines,” he said.