French Open 2020: Sara Errani hits out at Kiki Bertens over injury after bad-tempered match

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 30/09/2020 at 17:30 GMT

Sara Errani suggested Kiki Bertens overplayed her physical issues during their dramatic second-round match at Roland Garros. Bertens appeared to be struggling with severe cramp and was taken from the court in a wheelchair after winning, but Errani said "she made me angry".

Sara Errani accused wheelchair-bound Kiki Bertens of overplaying her injury issues during their second-round match at Roland Garros.

Bertens appeared to be struggling with cramping during a dramatic contest that saw 24 breaks of serve and Errani fail to serve out the match on three occasions.

In one error-strewn game, Errani's serve capitulated completely as she struggled to even land one in play.

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Bertens eventually won 7-6(5), 3-6, 9-7 and received treatment after the match before being taken away from the court in a wheelchair. Errani appeared to mock Bertens’ injury issues at one point in the final set and screamed an expletive as she stormed off at the conclusion.

Errani mocks Bertens over cramps during epic match

"She was running like never before. She made me angry. Well done for her,” said the 2012 runner-up.

“I don't like when somebody is 'playing' with me. She played an amazing match but I don't like the situation, one hour she's injured and runs like never…

Errani has serving disaster in nightmare game

“She left the court on a chair and now she's in the locker room perfect and in the restaurant. I don't like these things.”

Fifth seed Bertens will face Katerina Siniakova in the third round.

Asked about Erraini's comments, Bertens said: "She can say whatever she feels like, but yeah, well, then maybe I should take some more acting classes or should pursue a career in that, I'm not sure what she's thinking, but, no, I didn't feel really good on court to be honest.

"But a good thing I think it was for me that all the time the cramps were coming and going again, it was not like that it was staying in the body. So I felt like I had to stay calm and not be pumped too much because all the time when I did the fist pump like I could not do the fingers any more normal, so I just [tried] to stay calm and let the cramps go again."

Exhausted Bertens has to leave court in a wheelchair after win

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