some players wonder about the disrespectful, even alcoholic attitude of part of the public

When the physiotherapist arrives on the court, Friday June 2, to massage the thigh of Novak Djokovic, the Serb leads two sets to zero against the Spaniard Davidovitch Fokina. Faced with a hostile public, Djokovic, hitherto impassive, made a sign to encourage even more noise.

After his victory, the world number 3 returns to the incident during his press conference: “There are people who like to whistle at everything you do. It’s something that I find disrespectful. Frankly, I don’t understand. But it’s their right: they bought a ticket, they can do whatever they want. ‘they want.”

“99% of the time I don’t say anything, but sometimes I respond because when someone is disrespectful, he or she needs to have a response to their behavior.”

Novak Djokovic

at a press conference

But the one who undoubtedly suffers the most public ire is Taylor Fritz. The American, seeded number 9, was wrong to eliminate the last Frenchman in the running, Arthur Rinderknech, and to conclude the meeting by putting his finger on the mouth. So much so that his interview on the court, after the match, turned into a bronca. Arthur Rinderknech, who claims to have already experienced this elsewhere, offers the beginning of an explanation: “I had three or four times, in Australia, big atmospheres against Australians. I think they were even drunker than the French tonight!”

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Unlimited alcohol

And it’s true that in the aisles of the Roland-Garros stadium, spectators have the choice between champagne, rosé, Pim’s, Spritz… This year there is even a brand new “express beer” stand, where everyone helps themselves his draft beer. The stand was a great success, and then we find these euphoric consumers in the stands, like this young man who admits to being “arrived at 10.30am” and be at “the fourth” beer at 3 p.m. Delighted, he says, to find an atmosphere reminiscent of the big stadiums: “In football, it’s always a little crazy. In tennis, for me, it’s very calm. This year, it’s a little different.”

“In the stands, everyone is whistling, everyone is ole, etc… At least there is atmosphere in the stands!”

A spectator at Roland-Garros

at franceinfo

This development is linked to the increase in attendance at Roland-Garros. The final figures are not yet known, but during qualifying, for example, there was a 75% increase compared to last year.