French Open: Coco Gauff Showers Love on Raucous Crowd While Rival Iga Swiatek Urges Them to Behave in Bizarre Scenes

Players come and go, battles shift, but the French Open crowd’s passion for the event remains. Recently, top WTA players, including Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, have been achieving victories in full swing. However, they have different perspectives on dealing with the French crowd. World No. 1 Swiatek wants the Parisian audience to behave, but Gauff loves performing in front of them.

After Dubai’s Open champion defeated Tamara Zidanšek in the second round, after the match during the on-court interview, she revealed how she enjoyed playing in front of the French Open crowd. She said, “Thank you guys, especially over here and then there too, so thank you guys, it got very loud towards the end. I think there’s like this group of boys over here and I heard you guys uh so thank you, but yeah, I love coming to Paris uh it’s my favorite city.” 

Not only did she call out Paris as her favorite city, but at the same time, she clearly mentioned the amazing cheer that she received from the crowd. On the other side, during an intense three-set match against fellow four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, the reigning French Open champion chastised spectators for creating noise during play.

She said, “This is entertainment and we are also making money because of you. But sometimes under a lot of pressure when you scream something during the rally or right before the return, it’s really, really hard to be focused. I usually don’t bring this up because I want to be this kind of player that is in the zone and really focused.” 

Swiatek’s remarks brought attention to the growing scrutiny of French Open spectators’ conduct, even if she simply mentioned the noise made by the crowd during points. Further, she added, “So please guys, if you can support us between the rallies, not during those, that would be really, really amazing. I hope you are still going to like me because the French crowd might get some players that they don’t like and boo.” 

Following Iga Swiatek’s comments, David Goffin—who won in five sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3)—also spoke about the conduct of the spectators. Goffin cupped his ear in response to jeers directed at him on Court 14 by an antagonistic home crowd.

David Goffin echoes Iga Swiatek’s similar sentiments about the crowd at the French Open

Goffin chastised the French Open crowd for its “total disrespect,” claiming that the Roland Garros atmosphere is “becoming like football.” The Belgian player said that he was spit at by a fan during his first-round victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France.

He said, “When you are insulted for three and a half hours, you have to annoy the public a little. Clearly, it goes too far, it’s total disrespect. It’s becoming like football, soon there will be smoke bombs, hooligans, and there will be fights in the stands.” Last year, the French Open audience prompted a response from player Marta Kostyuk, who declared that spectators “should be embarrassed” when she was booed off the court for refusing to shake hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. 

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts about the crowds’ behavior at the French Open? Do let us know in the comment section below.