A Belgian tennis star has slammed fans at the French Open after they allegedly spat at him during a match.
David Goffin, 33, overcame home favourite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round following a five-set epic, with the world No 115 winning 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-7 6-3.
After the three hour and 35 minute clash, Goffin – who is competing at Roland Garros for the 13th time, with his best performance being a quarter-final finish in 2016 – sent a message to the crowd on Court 14 by holding his hands to his ears.
And, speaking afterwards, the Belgian opened up on his celebration and hit out at the behaviour of those in attendance.
‘When you are insulted for three and a half hours, you have to tease the public a little,’ he said.
A Belgian tennis star has slammed fans at the French Open after they allegedly spat at him
David Goffin overcame home favourite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round in five sets
Home favourite Perricard had hailed the support he received despite his narrow defeat
‘Clearly, it goes too far, it’s total disrespect. It’s really too much. It’s becoming football, soon there will be smoke bombs, hooligans and there will be fights in the stands.
‘It’s starting to become ridiculous. Some people are there more to cause trouble than to create an atmosphere.
‘Someone spat out their chewing gum at me. It [the match] was getting complicated. That’s why I wanted to stay calm. If I started to get angry about it, it could have destabilised me.’
However, Perricard, who snuck into the world’s top 100 after a victory at the Lyon Open last week and is a wildcard at Roland Garros, hailed the support he received.
Speaking when he was unaware of the spitting incident, he said: ‘It was really nice to have so much support.
‘I had a lot in Lyon as well, but that was different because here the guys are really with you from first to the last point. It’s really very pleasant to have such an audience.
‘I like it that they encouraged me. It helped me when I was broken in the fourth [set], and I would like to thank them for it. It’s really fantastic to have these guys there.’
Meanwhile, Goffin went on to claim that several tennis stars are unhappy with their treatment at the French Open and insisted the behaviour of supporters in Paris is much worse than at other tournaments.
After his victory, Goffin held his hands to his ears in the direction of the Court 14 crowd
Goffin claimed that several tennis stars are unhappy with their treatment at the French Open
He added: ‘A lot of people are complaining, a lot of umpires feel that there is a lot of disrespect.
‘This is the repeated a lot in the locker room and among the ATP authorities. We’re going to have to do something about that.
‘I think it only happens in France. At Wimbledon, obviously, there’s not that. Or in Australia either.
‘And at the US Open, it’s still rather quiet. Here [at Roland Garros], it’s really an unhealthy atmosphere.’
