Wife Intrusion! Stan Wawrinka accuses Federer’s wife of audible comments during game leading to a serious dispute in the wake of the semi-final match between the pair

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka get along before the semi final match at the ATP World Tour Final

It’s been reported that Roger Federer had a 10-minute row with rival Stan Wawrinka after Federer's wife 'heckled' him from the sidelines during their match.

Federer won the match 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 at the O2 in London on Saturday but his victory has been overshadowed by the fallout. 

It is understood that one of the reasons the Swiss compatriots fell out at their ATP Tour Finals semi-final was because Federer's wife Mirka heckled Wawrinka. 

Federer's wife Mirka created the controversy

Among Wawrinka's complaints is that she made audible comments from his supporters' box – which is at ground level – questioning in French whether he would have the guts to close the match. 

According to several eyewitnesses, a vociferous argument developed between the pair in the backstage area.

Tour officials decided that the best thing was to push them alone into a private room that had been converted into a gym area, as there is no communal locker room at the arena.

While the dispute is not believed to have become physical, a heated 10-minute row ensued in which both aired their grievances against the other. 

In what had been an unusually feisty and high quality semi-final, Wawrinka had four match points and served for the match at 5-4.

World No 2 Roger Federer has refused to comment regarding the fallout with his Swiss compatriot

According to French television, Wawrinka was picked up saying: 'She did the same thing at Wimbledon.'

John McEnroe spoke of the dispute on American television, but he seemed unaware of the extent to which it has escalated, according to those Sportsmail has spoken to.

Another cause of tension in matches between the two is said to be the presence in Federer's box of Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi, who coaches the world No 2 along with Stefan Edberg.

Roger Federer and Mirka

There was no comment from the Federer camp on Monday morning, but the situation is especially delicate because on Friday the two men, who have got on well in the past, are playing for Switzerland in the Davis Cup final against France.

It is the only major prize in tennis to have eluded the 17-time Grand Slam champion, and he will be relying on his long-time colleague to help him achieve that last ambition, particularly if they are paired together for a doubles match. They were leaving for Lille on Monday morning where the match will be played inside the city's football stadium.

While the undoubted row between the two men is a distraction, it was not the main cause of Federer pulling out of Sunday night's final, although the tension it caused is unlikely to have helped. The Swiss master, drained by the physically and mentally exhausting match against Wawrinka, sustained a pull in his back and clearly did not wish to risk it ahead of the Davis Cup final.

Federer usually manages to avoid controversy and his wife says little in public, despite playing a major role in her 33 year-old husband's phenomenal career.

Mirka with two daughters  Myla Rose and Charlene Riva

Mirka, who married him in 2009, is said to be a key component in making his life run like a Swiss clock to keep the success going. 

She is also known to have steely side, and it seems that is what has led to the fallout with Wawrinka that could be a threat to Switzerland's Davis Cup dreams.