Roger Federer has unleashed on a chair umpire for the second time this week during a dramatic Australian Open semi-final showdown with Hyeon Chung.
The Korean’s wide serve to the Swiss champ’s backhand in the second set was initially called out, but was overruled shortly after by another umpire.
A clearly frustrated Federer turned to the umpire who said: ‘The call did not hinder you. The call was out and you missed the shot.’
In an angry outburst, Federer blasted back and said: ‘That’s a bulls**** argument, it was during the shot.’
Roger Federer argued the umpire made a call too late, disrupting his concentration and losing him a point
He blasted the chair umpire, saying ‘that’s a bulls** argument, it was during the shot’
Twenty-one-year-old Chung was trailing 6-1 5-2 to 19-time Grand Slam champion Federer when he walked off court in pain
The umpire disagreed and stuck with the overrule, dismissing Federer’s claim that his concentration had been disrupted.
Despite the minor setback, the 36-year-old steamed through the coming sets until Chung eventually retired due to foot blisters at 6-1 5-2.
Federer’s bid for a 20th Grand Slam was not once put under threat by Chung, as the South Korean was thoroughly outclassed in Friday’s short semi-final.
Federer raced into his 30th major single’s final, facing and surviving just one break point before Chung retired hurt.
The umpire disagreed and stuck with the overrule, dismissing Federer’s claim that his concentration had been disrupted
Unseeded youngster Chung looked dejected as he wiped sweat from his forehead with a towel while his foot was tended to
The source of Chung’s discomfort appeared to be blisters on his left foot, which saw him receive a medical timeout in set two
Chung had treatment on a blistered foot midway through the second set and, despite initially playing on through the pain, he called time on the match after just under 63 minutes of play.
The blistering was not dissimilar to what happened in the Wimbledon final against the man Federer now faces, Croatian Marin Cilic, who on Thursday ousted Kyle Edmund.
It will be their second meeting in the final of the last three Grand Slams, and Federer will be perfectly fresh. He has not dropped a set en route to what is his seventh final at Melbourne Park.
Federer was given an easy workout by the Korean, and it was all over after just 63 minutes, much to the obvious disappointment of the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena.
He battled on for two-and-a-bit more games before eventually calling it a day and waving to the Melbourne crown as he exited
‘I know he has had a problem with a blister, I’ve played with them a lot and they hurt a lot,’ said Federer.
‘It is better to stop. I’m incredibly happy to be in the final but not like this. He has had such a wonderful tournament.
‘His attitude, he was fighting until the end. I knew something was wrong. He has great composure, I think he is going to achieve next level excellence. I can see why he beat Novak (Djokovic) and (Alex) Zverev.’
Chung’s retirement only brought forward the inevitable as 36-year-old Federer had been in supreme form, hitting 24 winners