There was drama at the end of the clash between
Tamara Korpatsch and the number 32 seed
Xinyu Wang at
Roland Garros. It would be the German to proceed into the third round after winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 but the headlines were stolen by an argument at the net following a contentious conflict earlier in the match.
Wang becomes the latest seed to fall, and the first in the second round to exit as
Korpatsch breaks new ground in
Paris, reaching the third round at Grand Slam level for the very first time.
Disagreement over markings
It was a scintillating start by the 31-year-old who raced into a 5-1 lead in the first set. She missed five set point chances on serve as Wang gave herself a lifeline. It would all be for nothing in the end.
A seventh set point was created and eventually converted, but before that occurred Wang wandered onto the other side of the court to have a look at a particular ball marking on the clay court. With no electronic line calling system in place, line judges are in use at the
French Open with markings now and again being challenged.
Wang took matters into her own hands, defiant that the ball she just hit landed in. Korpatsch argued against this, claiming that it had not touched the white line. Both players argued about it before Wang gave in and strolled back to her side of the court, getting a warning for her troubles.
Argument continues after the match is complete
It was a very solid response by Wang who won five games on the bounce to win the second set in commanding fashion and give herself a chance of getting back into this match. After the pair traded breaks early in the second set, Korpatsch found the breakthrough very late on, setting up a chance to serve it out. She did so with no qualm, progressing onwards and upwards in the major tournament.
The debacle had not finished yet as both players shared another moment of conflict, this time at the net where boos rang around Court 7 as the duo shook hands with the umpire and moved to their chairs, Korpatsch the more jubilant.
A possible third round tie against the Rome Open champion Elina Svitolina is on the cards. Either her or Kaitlin Quevedo will take on the world number 95 in round three once she gets over that contentious disagreement.