John McEnroe fanned suggestions that a late-night rumpus with Stan Wawrinka may have contributed to Roger Federer's late withdrawal from the Barclays ATP World Finals on Sunday night.
The world No 2 disappointed more than 17,000 fans at the O2 Arena by pulling out of the final against Novak Djokovic, citing a back injury sustained in his evening semi-final against Wawrinka.
But McEnroe also said a post-match spat between the two players, stemming from something Wawrinka said to his opponent's support bench, would not have helped matters. According to courtside photographers his words were directed either at Federer's wife Mirka, his father Robbie, or perhaps both.
French TV reported that it had picked up Wawrinka saying: ‘She did the same thing at Wimbledon.'
McEnroe told viewers on ESPN: ‘Afterwards something went on in the locker room, there was a long talk between the players that went on well into the night and the stress of that - I can't confirm all of this - I don't think that helped the situation.'
When asked about what happened during the apparent altercation in an unusually feisty third set, Wawrinka replied: ‘Not much, nothing special. Tense match, it's never easy.'
Federer declined to speak to the media on Sunday night after his withdrawal, but apologised to the crowd in person.
