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French Open: Drama at Roland Garros over handshake snub between Tamara Korpatsch, Wang Xinyu - 'I don't know how to cheat'

Germany's Tamara Korpatsch refuses to shake Chinese player Wang Xinyu's hand after French Open second-round clash after drama over line call at Roland Garros; Watch ATP and WTA Tours live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app

Wang Xinyu, Tamara Korpatsch
Image: Wang Xinyu (left) and Tamara Korpatsch (right) refused to shake hands after a tense French Open second round contest

Tamara Korpatsch skipped the customary handshake with Wang Xinyu after victory in a tense ‌second-round match at the French Open on Wednesday, saying she resented being portrayed as an 'unfair player' over a line call.

Tensions arose late ‌in the opening set of Korpatsch's 6-2 2-6 6-3 win on Court 7 when Wang struck a shot she believed ​had landed inside the baseline, only for her opponent to point to a ball mark outside the court.

The disagreement escalated when Wang crossed the net to ​inspect the mark on Korpatsch's side, drawing a code violation from chair umpire ‌Aurelie Tourte for unsportsmanlike conduct, and sparking tension that lingered through the match.

"It was a really long ball from her, and I ​saw it out. I don't know if the line umpire called it out or not, but there were two ball marks, actually," Germany's Korpatsch said.

. Korpatsch (Germany) - Wang (China). Xinyu Wang (back)
Image: Controversy arose over a shot Wang felt landed in, but Korpatsch highlighted had landed long beyond the baseline

"One was an old one and the other one was ​the new one. Both of them were out, so it doesn't matter. I ⁠didn't know which one was the right one but ⁠the chair umpire came down and showed the mark, and it was out.

"Also on the TV, they showed the Hawk-Eye and it was like ‌eight millimetres out. She came on my side, because she didn't believe it ... At the end, we didn't have a handshake because she told me she's not okay with that, with the ball marks.

"I can't ‌say I'll gift her the point. I'm a bit surprised, because we have a good relationship, we're not enemies. I didn't offer her my hand because that's not fair for me. She was unfair to come on my side, and I'm not an unfair player."

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Unlike the other three Grand Slams, the French Open ⁠does not rely on Electronic Line Calling, as officials can inspect traces left by ​the ball on the clay to help them make decisions, though ​there remains room for human error.

Korpatsch reiterated her frustration at the perception of the incident ​and defended her conduct.

"I think she said something like she thought I'm not a fair player ⁠or something like that, but I don't know how. We have one of the best chair umpires on the court, and I don't know how to cheat, honestly," Korpatsch said.

"There are cameras on court and they can ⁠check everything. For me, it would be embarrassing to cheat ​like that. I'm honest, that when I was running, I thought the ball is out, ​and was like 'okay, which one is it?' I didn't know which mark.

"For that, we have the umpire."

Through to the Roland Garros third round for the first ‌time, Korpatsch plays seventh seed Elina Svitolina ​next.

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