Star player says he’s notmad atball boy

Roger Federer said he hoped a ball boy who dropped a ball during the climax of his ATP Finals last-four defeat against Alexander Zverev would not have a sleepless night.

Germany’s Zverev won the match 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) but the end of the contest at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday was overshadowed by an unusual incident.

Zverev stopped playing during a rally with Federer leading 4-3 in the second-set tiebreak after the ball boy’s error, forcing the point to be replayed.

Zverev won the point with an ace and nudged into a 5-4 lead before Federer inexplicably netted with a simple forehand volley to hand the German two set points, the second of which he took on his own serve.

Boos from the pro-Federer crowd after the match saw on-court interviewer Annabel Croft tell them to be “more respectful” as Zverev had played by the rules.

“The ball boy dropped the ball and it is the rules we have to stop the point,” she said.

Federer, who was chasing a seventh end-of-season title, described Zverev’s move to stop the rally as a “big call” but said no blame was attached to the German.

“I’m not questioning Sascha’s [Zverev’s] sportsmanship in any way,” he said, adding that he hoped the ball boy did not “have a sleepless night. I’m definitely not mad at him. It’s all good.”