How Roger Federer responded when Pat Cash accused him of ‘legalised cheating’ at the Australian Open
This article revisits the 2017 Australian Open controversy where Pat Cash accused Roger Federer of 'legalized cheating' for taking medical timeouts. Federer defended his actions, citing legitimate physical pain and adherence to tournament rules.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing debate regarding the ethics of medical timeouts in professional tennis and how athletes manage public perception during high-stakes matches.
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.
"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.
1R [WIN] vs Jurgen Melzer, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
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