Canadian Vasek Pospisil has advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, but not without controversy.
Down a set to Australian Matthew Ebden in Wednesday’s second round, the 28th seed Pospisil received a medical timeout for lower back pain, an injury that forced him out of a semifinal at the Chennai Open 10 days prior.
Apparently, this didn’t sit well with his unseeded opponent, who hinted that Pospisil was employing some gamesmanship with the timing of his injury.
“I guess I got a bit tricked,” Ebden said, according to Australia’s Sports News. “Every match has different circumstances. Sometimes there’s wind, sometimes there’s heat, sometimes there’s things, you know, today the guy appeared to have some pain, but he’s serving over 200 every ball and he’s running side to side crushing balls.
“Take from it what you will. It’s a different situation.”
As for Pospisil, competing in his first major as a seeded player, he credited his comeback to the painkillers he received during the medical timeout.
“Supposedly, you can’t make it worse, that’s why I was playing even though the pain was getting worse,” he said. “So they said if you’re on painkillers it shouldn’t really be getting worse but I’m going to get an MRI tomorrow and see what’s really going on.”
Pospisil did, however, sympathize with Ebden’s position playing against an injured opponent.
“It is really tough for Matt obviously. Maybe if he thought I was 100 per cent I am sure he will play better, I don’t know,” said the Canadian.
“It is not an easy situation when your opponent is injured and I have been in that position before… so today it just worked out for me and it’s a tough thing for Matt to deal with.”
Pospisil went on to win the match 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(9) 6-1 and will next play No. 8 seed Stanislaw Wawrinka of Switzerland.