FFT president Gilles Moretton defends crowds, compares Australian Open, Iga Swiatek complains about fans, news, analysis

Sacreblue! Aussie crowds are as volatile as the feisty French fans who last year drew widespread condemnation from players?

That is the opinion of French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton who, while defending the passion shown by local fans at Roland Garros, cited the behaviour of patrons at the Australian Open as an example of why there is no difference around the world.

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“You’re talking about the French players playing? It was the same in Australia. I was in Australia,” he said on Monday in Paris.

“We have some people, they love tennis, and they know tennis very well. They know when to stop. They are not doing anything. That’s the way French people are. I’m sorry. They support their players.

“Maybe they make too much noise. We feel like that atmosphere is good for tennis. If it goes too far, we will have to say something. I hope it not bother too much the players. That’s the way it is.”

The issue of crowd behaviour in Paris was a hot topic in 2024, with four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek and Belgian veteran David Goffin among those to complain about fans going beyond the traditional chant of “Allez. Allez. Allez!”

Goffin alleged he had chewing gum spat at him during a five set win over rising French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Roland Garros last year when liking the behaviour of the crowd to soccer hooligans.

“Clearly it goes too far, it is total disrespect. It’s really too much. It’s becoming football,” he told Belgian press.

“It’s becoming football. Soon there will be smoke bombs, hooligans and fights in the stands. It’s starting to become ridiculous. Some people are there more to cause trouble than to create an atmosphere.”

Swiatek, who arrived in Paris low on confidence but began her bid for a fifth Roland Garros title with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Rebecca Sramkova, was upset about the treatment she received in a thriller against Naomi Osaka, which prompted a call from the FFT for respect.

But Aussie Adam Walton, who plays German Maximillian Marterer in an opening round match on Tuesday, indicated there might be some truth to Moretton’s point when discussing his clash with Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech last year.

“I mean, when I played the Australian Open, it was all for me and then obviously here, it was all against me,” he said.

To be fair, some ugly incidents aside in Paris, the atmosphere for matches at Roland Garros for finals and for big matches involving local favourites is superb given the passion the fans demonstrate.

And Australian crowds have been the subject of criticism, with supporters of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis drawing complaints during their run to the doubles crown at Melbourne Park in 2022, while some players are not fans of the “Party Court” at the complex.

Moretton, meanwhile, defended French officials against complaints men’s matches were being played in the prime-time spot at night in Paris, while the women stars are taking to centre court for the early matches.

Swiatek posted her 22nd win in succession at Roland Garros in front of a half-empty crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday morning, with French fans typically arriving after lunch for action on the main stadium court.

On the first day of the tournament, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka opened with a dominant win over Kamilla Rakhimova while former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin will play the midday match on the main court on Tuesday.

In contrast, American Ben Shelton won a five-set thriller on Sunday night in Paris that finished after midnight, while world No.1 Jannik Sinner was drawn to play Rinderknech on Monday night. French veteran Gael Monfils has the night slot on Tuesday.

While Moretton said he would leave the reasoning for the schedule to French Open boss and former world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo, he said the tournament had a duty to ensure fans for the night match are treated to the best match of the day.

“Sometimes we need to put, I mean, for the night session, we need to put the better match (that), we think, could be for the spectators,” Moretton said.

“Maybe we will have a few, I have no idea, a few female matches on the night sessions. We’ll see. (It) depends on the schedule, who is playing who, who will be the best match.”

Swiatek, for her part, has refused to buy into debate about the issue, in part because she prefers playing in the day in Paris.

“My position didn’t change. I like playing days, so I’m happy that I’m done and I can have a longer rest,” she said.

“But on the other hand, people just try to look for, like, not even things between men and women. You can find that in the schedule a little bit, and you can ask us all the time, but honestly, my answers are not going to change, so I don’t mind.”