Forget hits out at Kiefer

ByEurosport

Published 25/01/2006 at 16:42 GMT

With the French brooding over Nicolas Kiefer's racquet toss during his 6-3 0-6 6-4 6-7 8-6 win over Sebastien Grosjean, French Davis Cup captain Guy Forget criticized the officiating. A tinge of bitterness before his nation's first round tie next month ag

At 40-30 in the 12th game of the final and decisive set, as Grosjean was serving to stay in the match, Kiefer threw his racket over the net just after the 25th seed Frenchman hit a forehand into the net.

Grosjean immediately appealed but both chair umpire Carlos Bernardes and Grand Slam supervisor Mike Morrissey remained inflexible.

"I don't think the chair umpire made the right decision here," France's Davis Cup captain Guy Forget told our own Annabel Croft after the match.

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TENNIS 2006 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Guy Forget 25/01

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"At least, you expect to replay the point. So to hear the umpire say that's Kiefer's point when he's done something that is not allowed in the game..." Forget added in a sigh.

Kiefer admitted after the game his surprise to have been given the benefit of the point.

"I thought it's his point. I was surprised I got this point, the 29-year old said at the post-match news conference.

"Of course I understand (that Grosjean could be upset). But I think that's just things that are happening. We shouldn't only talk about this. There were so many close calls, especially in the tie-break, he then added.

TENNIS - 2006 Australian Open - Kiefer v Grosjean 1/4F 3

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Rightly so, but some suggest that Kiefer should have asked for the point to be replayed instead of accepting its gain.

WILANDER SIDES WITH KIEFER

The German, who reached his first-ever Grand Slam semi-final, has the backing of three-time Australian Open champ and Eurosport analyst Mats Wilander.

"I thought it was funny. It's a bit like (Marat) Safin taking down his pants at the French Open (last year)," the Swede told us.

TENNIS 2006 Egypt 2006 Mats Wilander 240106

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"It's a judgement call from the umpire. It was too questionable to give it to Kiefer, so he should have given it to Grosjean," he then explained.

"Grosjean in the end won the game so it doesn't matter," Wilander concluded.

STALLING TACTICS

This incident could well add spice to the Davis Cup tie in Halle between Germany and France next month and Forget will have his eye on Kiefer:

"It seems Nicolas takes more [time] than he is supposed to between the points. So you want to apply the rules."

"I hope the game will be played in a normal way, and that the best will win," Forget said.

"I'll be on my chair making sure the umpire makes the right decisions. I'll even probably talk to him about it.

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