Tamara Korpatsch's 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Wang Xinyu was overshadowed by a contentious post-match scene as the German skipped the customary handshake. The dispute stemmed from a line call in the first set that escalated into accusations and a code violation.
The incident occurred late in the opening set when Wang struck a ball she believed landed in. Korpatsch immediately pointed to a mark outside the court. With no immediate call, Wang took the extraordinary step of crossing the net to inspect the mark herself, drawing a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct from chair umpire Aurelie Tourte.
Korpatsch later explained that there were two ball marks and the umpire confirmed the ball was out by eight millimeters, as later shown by Hawk-Eye replays. “It was a really long ball from her, and I saw it out,” Korpatsch said. “I didn't know which one was the right one but the chair umpire came down and showed the mark, and it was out.”
The tension lingered throughout the three-set battle, culminating in the handshake snub. Korpatsch stated that Wang told her she was “not okay” with the situation, prompting Korpatsch to withhold the gesture. “I didn't offer her my hand because that's not fair for me,” Korpatsch said. “She was unfair to come on my side, and I'm not an unfair player.”
At Roland Garros, the absence of electronic line calling sets it apart from the other Grand Slams, which have adopted Hawk-Eye Live. The French Open relies on ball marks on the clay, but this system is prone to human error and interpretation disputes. The Korpatsch-Wang episode reignites the debate over whether the tournament should modernize.
Korpatsch defended her integrity, insisting she had no intention of deceiving anyone. “I think she said something like she thought I'm not a fair player or something like that, but I don't know how,” she said. “We have one of the best chair umpires on the court, and I don't know how to cheat, honestly. There are cameras on court and they can check everything. For me, it would be embarrassing to cheat like that.”
The confrontation also highlights the fine margins in tennis, where a single point can shift momentum. Wang, visibly frustrated, may have let the incident affect her composure after taking the second set. Korpatsch, by contrast, held her nerve to claim a place in the third round for the first time in Paris.
Looking ahead, Korpatsch faces seventh seed Elina Svitolina, a formidable opponent known for her resilience. The German will need to put the drama behind her if she hopes to continue her run. The handshake snub, however, is likely to follow her throughout the tournament, raising questions about sportsmanship and pressure.
For Wang, the episode is a learning moment; her reaction drew a code violation and may have cost her the match. The incident serves as a reminder of the psychological battles that often prove decisive on clay.
The French Open's unique reliance on human judgment and clay markings creates moments of high drama, and this latest controversy underscores the sport's ongoing tension between tradition and technology. As Korpatsch advances, the tennis world will watch to see if she can move past the controversy. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.