Fritz Gets a Taste of How Brutal French Open Crowd Can Be

US Taylor Fritz gestures after winning against France's Arthur Rinderknech at the end of their men's singles match on day five of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on June 1, 2023. (AFP)
US Taylor Fritz gestures after winning against France's Arthur Rinderknech at the end of their men's singles match on day five of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on June 1, 2023. (AFP)
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Fritz Gets a Taste of How Brutal French Open Crowd Can Be

US Taylor Fritz gestures after winning against France's Arthur Rinderknech at the end of their men's singles match on day five of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on June 1, 2023. (AFP)
US Taylor Fritz gestures after winning against France's Arthur Rinderknech at the end of their men's singles match on day five of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris on June 1, 2023. (AFP)

Taylor Fritz got a reminder of how brutal the Roland Garros crowd can be when he was booed for minutes after ending the run of the last local man standing at the French Open on Thursday.

Sustained boos and whistles rained down from the Court Philippe Chatrier stands after the American shushed the fans repeatedly, having beaten Arthur Rinderknech in four sets under the lights.

As he was preparing to do his post-match interview, Fritz kept his cool as he came under fire, barely able to exchange words with court-side interviewer Marion Bartoli.

"I'm sorry I actually can't hear you," he told the former Wimbledon champion.

"The crowd was so great honestly ... that I had to let it fire me up. They cheered so well for me I wanted to make sure I won," he added, having ended the French presence in the singles draws at Roland Garros by beating the last home favorite.

The crowd is fickle, corporate seats are often empty at lunchtime but when a French player needs support spectators turn the usually quiet courts into a wild arena and the claycourt Grand Slam provides an atmosphere unmatched at other majors.

This is exactly what Fritz experienced in his match against Rinderknech, like others before him.

When the crowd pick on a player, it can become exceptionally unsettling, as Martina Hingis notoriously experienced in the 1999 final against Steffi Graf.

Booed and jeered by the fans after disputing a line call while 6-4 2-0 up, the Swiss lost her composure and the contest before being booed again after match point.



Bundesliga Club Heidenheim Accuses Berlin Police of 'Extreme Violence' Against its Fans

10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
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Bundesliga Club Heidenheim Accuses Berlin Police of 'Extreme Violence' Against its Fans

10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa
10 May 2025, Berlin: Heidenheim's Jan Schoeppner (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim at An der Alten Foersterei. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa

Bundesliga club Heidenheim has accused Berlin police of extreme violence leaving some of its fans needing medical treatment following Saturday’s game at Union Berlin.
Five Heidenheim supporters were arrested and three of them charged, two for alleged vandalism and another for alleged insulting behavior, the police told news agency dpa on Sunday.
The club said the police detained several of its supporters before the match for the “unauthorized posting of stickers during the fan march, which had previously passed without incident.”
“The police also acted with extreme violence without any apparent reason or clear communication after the game, directly before we left the guests’ parking lot,” Heidenheim board member Petra Saretz said in a club statement, according to The Associated Press.
The incidents before the match led Heidenheim’s supporters to refrain from active support during the match, which the team won 3-0 to be sure of at least a relegation playoff.
“We feel obligated to call out the disproportionate violence used by Berlin police against Heidenheim fans yesterday and hope therefore that the authorities will provide clarification for this incomprehensible action,” said Heidenheim chairman Holger Sanwald, who thanked Union staff and others for their support during the incidents.