“If you use a swear word you’re going to get a code violation and a warning and a fine, but if you verbally abuse the umpire, that’s when there’s a question mark. It could be a default.
“Just from where we’re sitting to see the umpire get down off the umpire’s chair, to see the umpire and the supervisor to go on the court, that doesn’t happen unless something has gone on.”
When play continued, Cotter implied that Medvedev could have been defaulted. He remarked: “I’m sure there will be lots more talk over what has happened at the end and what was said.
“We’ll talk about it more at a quieter point in this match but there is a chance that Medvedev has gotten away with something other than just getting a violation. Something more. It ought to be discussed.”
Medvedev recovered to take the first set in a tiebreak, dropping just one point to the reigning champion as he secured a 7-6(1) lead after 58 minutes.