Roger Federer's rare spat with chair umpire

In a move that surprised fans, tennis legend Roger Federer blew up at an umpire at the French Open.

He was furious as he was handed a time violation for taking too long between points and took out his anger on the chair umpire and his opponent Marin Cilic.

"Marin, am I playing too slow?" Federer asked, to which Cilic responded he was.

Federer tried arguing that he was not used to handling his own towel due to coronavirus to the chair umpire.

"I understand the rule," Federer protested to Cilic.

"I'm going from one corner to the next trying to get my towel. I'm not doing it on purpose."

He was still frustrated by the end of the argument, saying he will stay still.

"I don't even dare to go my towel anymore," he said to Joseph.

The dispute lasted several minutes, but Federer won the match with 6-2 2-6 7-6 (4) 6-2.

Federer spoke about the "misunderstanding" to the press after the match.

The argument started as Federer was serving, with the rules of tennis insisting that the receiver play to the speed of the server.

"I just feel like it was a misunderstanding on many levels," Federer added.

"I didn't feel like I was playing particularly slow, and with the towels, quite honestly, if I want to go to the towel, now I can't go to the towel anymore, it's okay, I get it.

"I understand playing to the server's pace, I have done it in hundreds of matches, and I always feel like I don't make my opponent wait very much, but clearly Marin wanted to go faster."

Federer was surprised by his strong performance as he said that he couldn't have lasted more than two hours against his opponent.

"I didn't think I could play at this level for two hours against Marin," Federer said.

"I finished by serving really well. It shows I have something in reserve, I have some energy left and that's really good for my confidence."