Korpatsch rejects handshake with Wang after French Open line-call dispute

German tennis player Tamara Korpatsch has refused to shake hands with China’s Wang Xinyu following a second-round match at the French Open, citing a dispute over officiating integrity. The incident occurred after Wang inspected a ball mark on Korpatsch’s side of the court, challenging a chair umpire’s ruling that a crucial shot had landed out.

The confrontation began in the first set when the chair umpire ruled that Wang’s shot had landed beyond the baseline, giving Korpatsch set point on Wang’s serve. Wang walked to Korpatsch’s side of the clay to inspect the mark, an action that drew boos from the crowd and resulted in a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Korpatsch, who ultimately won the match 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, clarified that two ball marks were visible—one old and one new—but both were ruled out. She noted that the chair umpire’s decision was supported by Hawk-Eye technology, which showed the mark was approximately 8mm out.

The tension persisted at the net after the match concluded, with both players walking away without the customary handshake. Korpatsch stated that the refusal was a direct response to Wang’s implication that she was “not a fair player.”

“I didn’t offer her my hand because that’s not fair for me,” Korpatsch said. “She was unfair to come on my side, and I’m not an unfair player. For me, it would be embarrassing to cheat like that.”

The dispute highlights the distinct protocols at Roland Garros, which relies on visual inspection of physical ball marks on the clay surface rather than the electronic line-calling systems used at other Grand Slams. Korpatsch expressed surprise at the accusation, noting the presence of multiple cameras and a strong officiating team.

Korpatsch is scheduled to face seventh seed Elina Svitolina in the next round of the tournament.