Video emerges of Mirka Federer's on-court spat with husband's rival
Video has emerged of Roger Federer’s wife allegedly calling Stan Wawrinka a "cry baby" in a fiery exchange during the World Tour semi-final.
The new clip is evidence of Mirka Federer "heckling" her husband's opponent, creating tensions between the Swiss men that are threatening to undermine the country's bid for a first Davis Cup title.
The video emerged in European media overnight and shows Wawrinka blowing up over Mirka’s habit of calling out between serves, a clear violation of tennis etiquette.
The clip begins in the second set with chair umpire Cedric Mourier telling Wawrinka in French, “I have not heard anything, Stan, sparking a rant from the World No.4.
Wawrinka responds, “You know why?” I’m not rating.”
“She (Mirka) did the same at Wimbledon,” he says. “Every time I’m on his side”.
“She screams before I serve. It is unbearable,” he adds as he gets a new racquet out of a bag.
The exchange gets personal in the third set, with Wawrinka pulling away from receiving a serve at deuce in the eleventh game.
The world No.4 says to the umpire in English, “not just before the serve”.
Audio in the video then appears to clearly reveal Mirka calling Wawrinka a "cry baby".
A clearly agitated Wawrinka yells back, “Huh? What? What did you say?”
“No Stan, no Stan” the umpire interjects as a chorus of boos rings out at London’s O2 Arena.
Federer went on to save four match points to triumph 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 but was reportedly engaged in a lengthy and heated discussion with Wawrinka following the match.
Despite news breaking yesterday that the tensions between the two camps were threatening their bid for a Davis Cup title against France on Saturday, the 17-time grand slam champion attempted to play down the spat with a post of social media.
“It's great being with the boys again,” he posted along with a picture of the Swiss team together.
It's great being with the boys again .. And #captain #luthi pic.twitter.com/iMWJUVKd0T
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) November 17, 2014
