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‘It’s become a big deal because of the press, because of you. But for us it's nothing really’
‘We had a conversation after the match. Everything's totally relaxed about the situation’
‘We are friends, not enemies. But obviously it was maybe one of those moments, heat-of-the-moment situation’
With the Davis Cup final against France looming, Roger Federer and his Swiss team mate Stanislas Wawrinka on Tuesday played down talk of an internal row, sparked by the pair's fiery clash at the ATP World Tour Finals last week.
Davis final: Federer-Wawrinka 'patch up' as Switzerland look to tame France
Did Federer's wife Mirka call Wawrinka a crybaby?
During their semi-final encounter in London, which Federer won 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6), television footage showed Wawrinka asking Federer’s box to keep quiet between serves and complaining to chair umpire Cedric Mourier that his opponent's wife Mirka had heckled him.
Both players, however, talked down the incident at a news conference in Lille, where the Davis Cup final will be played on clay from Friday to Sunday.
"We had a conversation after the match. Everything's totally relaxed about the situation. We're old enough. We have Severin (Luthi) as a coach and Davis Cup captain and friend who was there, as well,” Federer said.
"I just wanted to see if there was any hard feelings because it was probably one of the loudest moments of the match, around 5-4, 5-5 score. Clearly a lot of noise.
"Yeah, like I said, there's no hard feelings whatsoever. We're having a good time here. We are friends, not enemies. But obviously it was maybe one of those moments, heat-of-the-moment situation.” Wawrinka said:
“I think, first thing, we had no problem together. We talked about that already straight after the match. Not only about that, about many things. We know how to deal when we have a small thing like that.
"There's not much to say because it's become a big deal because of the press, because of you. But for us it's nothing really."
Federer skips final training with back problems
Swiss Roger Federer's participation in the Davis Cup final against France was still hanging in the balance on Tuesday as the 17-time Grand Slam champion said he could not train because of back problems.
Federer, however, was hopeful he could be ready for Friday's first singles.
"My back is better than it was Sunday, but not good enough for practice yet. But I'm hopeful," the world number two told a news conference in Lille, where the final will be played on clay from Friday-Sunday.
Federer withdrew from the ATP World Tour final he was scheduled to play on Sunday, against world number one Novak Djokovic, citing back problems.
Switzerland have never won the Davis Cup.