Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the 2017 Australian Open final.
The Swiss icon won his 17th Grand Slam title in Australia nine years ago, defeating arguably his greatest rival, Nadal, in the final. Federer required treatment to his thigh and took a medical timeout during the fifth set.
“It’s cheating, and it’s being allowed. It’s legal cheating, but it’s still not right,” said Cash during BBC Radio 5 Live’s Australian Open coverage.
Federer was asked about Cash’s comments during his post-match press conference, where he delivered a response to the 1987 Wimbledon champion.
Roger Federer didn’t know what Pat Cash was talking about after he criticised him at the 2017 Australian Open
“Look, I mean, I explained myself a couple of days ago after the Stan [Wawrinka] match. Yeah, my leg has been hurting since the [Noah] Rubin match. I was happy that I was able to navigate through the pain,” said Federer.
Roger Federer at the 2017 Australian Open
- 1R [WIN] vs Jurgen Melzer, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
- 2R [WIN] vs Noah Rubin, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6
- 3R [WIN] vs Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
- 4R [WIN] vs Kei Nishikori, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
- QF [WIN] vs Mischa Zverev, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2
- SF [WIN] vs Stan Wawrinka, 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3
- F [WIN] vs Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
“For some reason, against Stan, I had it from the start on both sides of the groin. After he took a medical timeout, I thought I could also take one for a change and see if something like a massage during the match is actually going to help me.
Is it time to end best-of-five-set matches in tennis?
How would you solve the issue of tennis matches lasting too long?
“It did a little bit, potentially. I’m not sure. And then today, probably, well, I felt my quad midway through the second set already, and my groin started to hurt midway through the third set.
“I just told myself, the rules are there; you can use them. I also think we shouldn’t be using these rules or abusing the system. I think I’ve led the way for 20 years.
2017 Australian Open final – Match stats
| Stats | Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal |
| Aces | 20 | 4 |
| Double faults | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 62% | 73% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 76% | 63% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 49% | 56% |
| Winners | 73 | 4/17 |
| Unforced errors | 57 | 35 |
| Break points | 6/20 | 28 |
| Total points won | 150 | 139 |
“So I think, to be critical, there is exaggerating. I’m the last guy to call a medical timeout. So I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
Federer clearly wasn’t happy with Cash’s accusation and defended his use of the medical timeout against Nadal. Unsurprisingly, Nadal himself was asked about the controversy during his post-match press conference.
“No opinion about that. I don’t know what’s going on,” said Nadal.
Federer argued that he would be the ‘last guy’ to call a medical timeout, claiming he ‘led the way’ throughout his career. The 20-time Grand Slam champion won the ‘Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award’ a record 13 times. If that doesn’t dispel any rumours of him ‘cheating’, nothing will.
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award winners
- Roger Federer – 13
- Rafael Nadal – 5
- Stefan Edberg – 5 (ATP Sportsmanship Award)
- Pat Rafter – 4
- Alex Corretja – 2
- Carlos Alcaraz – 2
- Paradorn Srichapan – 2
- Todd Martin – 2 (ATP Sportsmanship Award)
The medical timeout controversy between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in Australia
Nine years after Federer’s medical timeout in Australia, Carlos Alcaraz caused more controversy in Melbourne. During his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev, he asked for treatment and received a medical timeout.
Zverev believed Alcaraz was being treated for cramps, which is not permitted under Grand Slam rules. The German complained during the match and in his post-match press conference.
“Yeah, I mean, he was cramping, so normally you can’t take a medical timeout for cramping, yeah. What can I do? It’s not my decision. I didn’t like it, but it’s not my decision. I just said it was b—-, basically,” said Zverev.
Alcaraz defeated Zverev in five sets, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, to reach the Australian Open final, where he beat Novak Djokovic to complete his Career Grand Slam.
