Microscratch　test　with　a　spherical　indenter　was　carried　out　on　copper　under　different　tilt　conditions　and　applied　loads.　Influence　of　surface　slope　and　applied　load　on　scratch　responses　such　as　friction　coefficient,　residual　groove　width,　penetration　depth　was　quantified　by　simple　(e.g.,　linear,　quadratic,　and　power-law)　expressions.　Apparent　friction　coefficient　for　non-tilt　condition　can　be　obtained　by　correcting　the　results　measured　for　a　prior　known　surface　slope.　Contact　area　is　believed　to　be　confined　in　the　front　side　of　the　indenter　with　pile-up　of　material　contributing　to　the　horizontally　projected　area　and　a　minor　segment　for　the　vertically　projected　area.　The　radius　of　spherical　indenter　can　be　calibrated　on　a　reference　material　from　residual　groove　width　and　penetration　depth　data.　©　2021,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.