Roger Federer has played down his reported row with Davis Cup team-mate Stan Wawrinka and insists any problems have now been smoothed over by the Swiss pair.
Reports emerged on Monday that the players had an argument following their semi-final at the ATP World Tour Finals last week, resulting from a spat between Wawrinka and Federer’s wife Mirka during the last-four encounter.
Federer had saved three match points in the 10th game of the deciding set and the match was poised at 5-5 and 40-40 in game 11 when Wawrinka gestured to Federer’s box asking that they not make noise in between serves.
Mrs Federer was then heard to call Wawrinka a ‘crybaby’, prompting an incredulous reaction from the Australian Open champion, who went on to lose the match 4-6 7-5 7-6 (8/6).
It was then widely reported that Federer and Wawrinka were involved in a “furious row” behind the scenes.
That would have been a concern for Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi, who leads the team into the final against France on Friday, but the star pair put on a show of unity yesterday, with world No2 Federer posting a picture on Twitter of the team-mates looking all smiles.
“It’s great being with the boys again,” Tweeted Federer, above a picture including himself and Wawrinka with arms around each other.
In the shot, world No4 Wawrinka makes playful ‘bunny ears’ behind his team-mate’s head.
Both players later faced the media in Lille, and although Federer was unwilling to disclose details of the incident he did stress it was all water under the bridge now.
“We had a conversation after the match,” Federer said.
“Everything is totally relaxed. There was a lot of noise but there are no hard feelings whatsoever.
"We are having a good time, we are friends, not enemies. It was a heat of the moment situation.”
Wawrinka also confirmed the pair had settled their differences but feels umpire Cedric Mourier, who tried to calm the player down, could have handled things better.
“We have no problem together – we spoke about it straight after the match,” said Wawrinka.
“I don’t think the umpire was doing a great job in the match – it was quite a mess already.
"It has become a big deal but for us, it’s nothing. It took us five minutes to talk about that.”
Of more concern for the Swiss is Federer’s fitness after the 17-time grand slam winner was forced to withdraw from Sunday’s London final against Novak Djokovic due to a back injury.
Federer said: “My back is better than it was Sunday, but not good enough for practice yet. But I’m hopeful.”
