Paris (AP) – In every sport, competing at home offers distinct advantages. At the French Open, it can feel as though the entire crowd rallies against visiting players who face off against French competitors.
The audience doesn’t merely cheer; they boo. This reaction can be attributed to tournament organizers. The ban on alcohol from the stands implemented last year is still in effect.
Many non-French athletes experiencing this hostile environment have likened the intense atmosphere to a football match, including 19-year-old Jakub Mensic, who triumphed over Alexandre Mueller amid a tough crowd at Court 14 on Tuesday.
Some players choose stronger language.
One player describes open French fans as “unpleasant”
“Not good. The worst experience of my life,” said Chilean Nicolas Jarry when reflecting on last year’s difficult defeat at Simonne Mathieu, as mentioned by France’s Corentin Mutet.
Jarry accused Moutet of calling him a “good man” and a “gentleman,” while pointing out that the tension shifted to another French player, Arthur Fils, during Monday’s match.
“It’s a battle out there. Sometimes it’s not just a matchup against the players.” Novak Djokovic is set to confront an unrestrained Moutet in the second round on Thursday.
Expect an antagonistic atmosphere; Djokovic certainly anticipates it.
Roland Garros audience can be “larger and more passionate”
“They’ll have the crowd behind them. It’s no surprise. It’s expected,” stated the 24th Grand Slam Champion. “Here in France, people offer players more support and energy compared to other tournaments.”
This is in stark contrast to the typical silence often observed in tennis arenas, leading to questions about where the line between encouragement and hostility lies.
“We’ve increased security,” said Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo, a former world No. 1, ahead of this year’s event. “The chair umpire will have more authority to intervene and address unacceptable conduct from the audience.”
During his match on Tuesday, Mensik faced jeers with every ball hit during his warm-up before overcoming France’s Muller 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3. The audience’s reaction intensified with each of his 20 aces and as he simply walked over to check ball marks—a routine aspect of clay court tennis.
After securing the third set, Mensik echoed a playful bird gesture, moving his right index finger like a conductor—a tip he learned from Djokovic.
“At times,” Mensik remarked about the crowd, “it’s a bit too much.”
Nonetheless, some players shrugged it off.
Some players assert that the boisterous Paris crowd is just part of tennis
“It’s a facet of tennis, especially here. My competitors have their supporters; I have mine in Belgium. That’s normal,” noted Belgian 24th seed Elise Mertens, who reached the semifinals at the 2018 Australian Open.
There are two sides to the strong support French players receive.
“It makes you feel like you can reach for the stars,” said Valbara Gracheva, the highest-ranked French female player, though she lost in the first round on Tuesday.
25 years since a French player won the French Open—now 42
It has been a quarter-century since a female representative of the host nation claimed a singles title at the French Open (Mary Pierce in 2000), and it’s even longer for men (Yannick Noah in 1983).
“As a French player, we feel the pressure whenever we compete here,” said Moutet, currently ranked 73rd. “When you win, you feel like the ‘king of the world.’ It’s crucial to manage that pressure.”
Nathan Fima, an 18-year-old high school student from Paris, felt his compatriots needed his support. He was present at Roland Garros this week, waving a blue, white, and red French flag and cheering while skipping classes to watch the qualifying and first-round matches.
“We must encourage them; otherwise, it won’t happen often,” he said following France’s Diane Parry’s loss on Monday. “Maybe that noise will inspire our homegrown champions to victory once again. We need to believe in it.”
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Source: apnews.com