Alex has a ball but is booed by angry fans
ROGER FEDERER crashed out of the Nitto ATP Finals – and then saw Alexander Zverev booed by The O2 crowd after a sorry end to their semi-final.
German Zverev stopped play in the middle of a point – when he was trailing in the second set tie-break – after a ball boy dropped a ball.
He thundered down an ace on the replay to bring the score to
4-4 – and went on to win 7-5 7-6 to reach the biggest final of his career.
But furious Federer fans in the 17,500 arena vented their anger at the world No.5 during his post-match interview.
Announcer Annabel Croft even told them to be more “respectful”.
Between the boos, emotional Zverev said: “I want to apologise for the situation in the tie-break. The ball boy dropped the ball.
“It’s in the rules that you have to replay the point.
“I apologised to Roger at the net. He told me, ‘It’s okay. It’s obviously in the rules’.
“I want to apologise to the crowd. There are a lot of Roger fans here. This is now how I wanted it to end. I am lost right now.”
Even tournament director Adam Hogg slammed his paying customers for their reaction.
He tweeted: “Astonishingly disappointing reaction from the crowd.”
Zverev, 21, later revealed: “I was really upset afterwards in the locker room, as well. I’m not going to lie. I had to take a few minutes for myself.”
The defeat ended Australian Open winner Federer’s season.
He will have to wait until next year for the chance to win his
100th ATP Tour title. Asked about the ball boy incident, Federer said: “Instead of being in the rally in a decent position, you get aced.
“So, yes, it did affect me. It’s bold to stop the rally because I don’t know if it’s an umpire’s decision or not.
“It was obviously a big call. I understand the frustration. These things happen. Booing, I never like it.”
Federer spoke to umpire Carlos Bernades and then checked with the shell-shocked ball boy before the point was replayed.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner said: “I hope he doesn’t have a sleepless night.
“It’s not a big deal at the end of the day.
“It could have been if maybe I win the next point. I’m definitely not mad at him.”
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lost for the third consecutive year in the semi-finals of the doubles to Americans Jack Sock and Mike Bryan 6-3 4-6 10-4.