Image supply, Getty Images
- Author, Jonathan Jurejko
- Role, BBC Sport journalist at Roland Garros
If Iga Swiatek had been feeling the strain throughout her powerful second-round match towards Naomi Osaka, it hadn’t dissipated by the point it got here to her on-court interview.
Moments after she got here by means of to win a three-set thriller – having saved a match level within the decider – the 22-year-old Pole felt the necessity to rebuke the Roland Garros crowd for making noise throughout the factors.
“Sometimes under a lot of pressure, when you scream something during the rally, it is very distracting and hard to focus,” world primary Swiatek advised the French fans.
“This is severe for us and generally it’s exhausting to just accept. The stakes are huge and we’re taking part in for some huge cash.
“If you can assist us earlier than the rallies however not throughout. I like you guys and I at all times love taking part in right here so let’s proceed that.”
It was a startling response from a participant who is understood for her gentle manners and who hardly ever attracts controversy in entrance of the microphone.
When she spoke to the media in her post-match interview little greater than an hour later, the defending champion adopted a extra conciliatory tone and joked she did not wish to be put below the highlight for the feedback.
“I do not know if that was a great resolution or not,” she smiled.
“But I hope they’ll deal with me as a human and simply we are able to sort of work on it.”
But Swiatek’s feedback introduced the behaviour of Roland Garros fans below scrutiny as soon as extra.
On Tuesday, Belgium’s David Goffin claimed he had chewing gum spat at him by a French supporter when he performed towards dwelling participant Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The ambiance throughout Swiatek’s match was removed from febrile, although.
The greater concern gave the impression to be why there have been so many empty seats on Court Philippe Chatrier for a high-quality and absorbing contest between two of the WTA Tour’s brightest stars.
Starting third within the day session on the primary show-court, the match began at 17:37 native time [16:37 BST] and completed at 20:34.
You might solely surprise the place else the Parisian ticket-holders had headed.
“Osaka vs Swiatek is a superb watch. WTA have to do extra to capitalise on these match ups!” Andy Murray, the British former world primary, stated on X.
The swathes of seats have been actually not a great look.
Had the match been placed on within the evening session, Swiatek and Osaka would doubtless have been loved by a a lot fuller crowd.
It led to extra questions in regards to the French Open’s scheduling coverage, which has been criticised in recent times.
Instead of Swiatek versus Osaka, Wednesday evening’s prime-time slot noticed males’s second seed Jannik Sinner beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet in straight units.
All 4 evening classes thus far on the 2024 event have been males’s singles matches and a fifth – between dwelling favorite Gael Monfils and Italy’s 30th seed Lorenzo Sonego – is scheduled on Thursday.
Only two ladies’s singles matches featured in a complete of 20 evening classes throughout 2022 and 2023.
Three-time main finalist Ons Jabeur thought Swiatek versus Osaka ought to have had a night-session match, though Swiatek later diplomatically stated she most popular taking part in within the day.
Jabeur referred to as on the French Open to advertise the ladies’s recreation extra and hopes Mauresmo can oversee significant change.
“I’m going to get in hassle once more, aren’t I? Listen, I do know they’re attempting right here – I want they’d strive extra,” stated the Tunisian world quantity 9.
“It’s not one thing we’ll change in a day. I’m watching TV day-after-day. Quite a lot of males’s matches, greater than ladies, and it’s the fact.”
