Daily Mail

Federer blast at injured stars who ‘turn up for cash’

- By Ben Wilkinson

WIMBLEDON favourite Roger Federer has said unfit players should give up their places amid suspicions that injured stars are turning up only to claim generous prize money.

His comments came after eight players retired in the first round and another claimed he was too ‘bored’ to fight for a win.

Yet all the dropouts will still be awarded Wimbledon’s £35,000 first round prize money.

Seven-time champion Federer won his Centre Court match yesterday after Ukrainian Alexandr dolgopolov retired in the second set.

It came moments after former title holder Novak djokovic’s Slovakian opponent Martin Klizan also dropped out due to injury. disappoint­ed fans – who can pay thousands for a ticket – shouted ‘No!’ as their second match in a row was called off.

Australian Bernard Tomic also faced calls to hand back his prize money after he blamed his straight- sets defeat on being ‘bored’ – prompting outrage from young players who have dreamed of playing at Wimbledon.

Federer, 35, was asked if players might be taking part in the tournament just to get their hands on the cash. He said unfit players should ‘give up the spot’ but suggested Wimbledon should adopt the Associatio­n of Tennis Profession­als system whereby players who give up their place are still paid rather than miss out.

He said: ‘It’s a lot of money. For some it’s more, for some it’s less. It doesn’t matter. For some, they just want to be out there because they feel like miracles happen: maybe the other guy retires, or maybe the other guy is carrying an injury. You never know what the player’s motives are.’

The world number five said he felt sorry for the Centre Court crowd, adding: ‘They’re there to watch good tennis, proper tennis. Yeah, it’s unfortunat­e that it happened like this.’

He also joked with djokovic that perhaps the pair should play a set to entertain the disappoint­ed fans.

one fan, Sally Simpson, 47, said: ‘I queued all day for a ticket yesterday to see Federer. It’s great when you get to see the players but you expect them to play for longer.’ Jeff Hughes, 58, who camped since 12pm on Sunday to pay £56 for a ticket, said last night: ‘ You do feel short changed and cheated in some respects.’

djokovic agreed a rule change might be needed to compensate unfit players if they gave up their spot.

And three-time champion John Mcenroe said on BBC Sport: ‘I do think when you saw Klizan he clearly wasn’t ready or able to play from the very beginning.

‘They’ve got to figure out some kind of rule change where, I suggest, they give him half the first-round prize money and bring someone else in who is at least fit and can go out 110 per cent. It’s not a good look for our sport when you have to sit and watch that on Centre Court.’

But the prize cash will also be paid to Tomic, 24, who was fit to play but could not be bothered to battle for a second round spot. He also admitted to faking an injury as he struggled against German Mishca Zverev.

He said after his loss yesterday: ‘I don’t know why, but, you know, I felt a little bit bored out there. You know, to be completely honest with you.’

And he admitted to calling on the medical team when his opponent broke his serve in the second set. He said: ‘I just thought I’d try to break a bit of momentum, to use that as my strategy, because I was just playing very bad and feeling bad out there.

‘I tried to use something different maybe, you know, slow him down a bit on the serve.’

When asked if he would hand the prize money back or donate it to charity, he did not give a straight answer, adding: ‘Well, if Roger and Novak, these guys will, no problem.’

Briton Katie Boulter, 20, who narrowly lost her first ever Wimbledon tie after a brave fight, criticised the Australian. She said: ‘I cannot even comprehend how someone can say it’s boring at Wimbledon. I think it’s the best place to play in the world.’

The eight players who retired in the first round is the most since the same number did so in 2008.

 ??  ?? Injured: Alexandr Dolgopolov quits against Roger Federer yesterday
Injured: Alexandr Dolgopolov quits against Roger Federer yesterday

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