French Open Controversy: Korpatsch Denies Cheating After Bitter Clash With Wang Xinyu

French Open Match Turns Sour Over Disputed Ball Mark

A second-round encounter at the French Open descended into controversy when German tennis player Tamara Korpatsch and China's Wang Xinyu became embroiled in a bitter dispute over a line call — a row that ultimately ended without the traditional post-match handshake.

Korpatsch emerged victorious with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 scoreline, but the result was largely overshadowed by the on-court tension that had been building from a pivotal moment in the first set.

The Flashpoint That Started It All

The trouble began when Wang Xinyu, seeded 32nd in the tournament, crossed onto Korpatsch's side of the court to personally examine the ball mark after the chair umpire ruled her shot had gone beyond the baseline. The moment was critical — the disputed point handed Korpatsch a set point on Wang's serve at the conclusion of the opening set.

Wang's decision to cross over and challenge the call did not sit well with the crowd, who responded with audible booing. She was subsequently issued a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct by the chair umpire.

Technology and Officials Back Korpatsch

Korpatsch was firm in her defence, explaining that there were two visible ball marks on the clay — one old and one fresh — but that both landed outside the line. Her version of events was backed up by both the chair umpire, who came down from the chair to inspect the mark personally, and Hawk-Eye technology, which confirmed the ball was approximately 8mm out.

"The chair umpire came down and showed the mark, and it was out. On TV, they showed the Hawk-Eye and it was like 8mm out. She came to my side because she didn't believe it," Korpatsch explained after the match.

It is worth noting that unlike the other three Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open does not use electronic line-calling technology. On clay, officials rely on the physical impressions left by the ball on the surface to make and verify their rulings.

No Handshake as Tensions Boil Over

The atmosphere remained charged throughout the remainder of the match, and when the two players met at the net at the final whistle, both walked away without exchanging the customary handshake — a rare and pointed gesture in professional tennis.

Korpatsch explained her reasoning plainly: "At the end, we didn't have a handshake because she told me she's not OK with the ball marks. I didn't offer her my hand because that's not fair for me. She was unfair to come on my side, and I'm not an unfair player."

Korpatsch Calls Cheating Accusation 'Embarrassing'

Following the match, Wang suggested that Korpatsch had not played fairly — a claim the German player flatly rejected with a tone of disbelief.

"I think she said something about me not being a fair player, but I don't know how," Korpatsch said. "We have one of the best chair umpires on court, and I don't know how to cheat. There are many cameras on court and they can check everything. For me, it would be embarrassing to cheat like that."

Despite the animosity, Korpatsch acknowledged that the two players had shared a positive relationship prior to the incident. "I'm a bit surprised because we have a good relationship — we're not enemies," she added.

What's Next for Korpatsch

With the controversy behind her, Korpatsch now faces a significantly tougher challenge in the next round, where she is set to take on seventh seed Elina Svitolina. Whether the emotional intensity of this match will affect her performance remains to be seen, but the German player will be keen to let her tennis do the talking.