Fabio Fognini and Salvatore Caruso have been separated by the court supervisor after the first all-Italian Australian Open men's singles match of the open era ended in a heated exchange in Melbourne.
They battled it out over nearly four hours on the John Cain Arena court and played a thrilling final set tiebreak before 16th seed Fognini emerged a 4-6 6-2 2-6 6-3 7-6(12) winner.
But the traditional handshake at the net quickly degenerated into a heated argument when Fognini said Caruso was lucky on some points in the match, an suggestion to which the Sicilian objected.
The expletive-filled exchange, punctuated by plenty of gesticulation, continued by the side of the court until the official stood between the two players.
"We are good friends," a smiling Fognini later told reporters in the post-match press conference.
"I am really happy because I think I was not playing my best tennis today," he added when asked again about the incident.
"So I had more chances than him in the fifth, but that's the sport. I was lucky, too … these kind of things sometimes happen on court."
When pressed a third time, Fognini's smile darkened.
"You understand my words or not?" he said.
"Can you please change question, please? Next question, thank you."
Caruso was equally evasive when asked to discuss the post-match argument.
Fognini, who came from 1-5 down to win the final tiebreak 14-12, saving a match point along the way, was also involved in controversy during a match at Melbourne Park last year.
On that occasion, he ripped his shirt off in protest at a perceived injustice and was docked a point for refusing to play during an ill-tempered fourth round loss to Tennys Sandgren that the American described as a "war".
The 33-year-old claycourt specialist will face Australian number one Alex de Minaur in the third round.
"Really tough," said Fognini.
"At the moment he's favourite, because he hasn't lost a set.
"Now I'm 33, nearly 34, and I wish my body still recovers really quickly because Alex I think is one of the faster guys in the circuit."
Reuters/ABC
