“shameful” or “awesome”, the behavior of the public in debate

2023-06-02 12:13:05

It is an unusual gesture that came to conclude a hectic evening at Roland-Garros. The American Taylor Fritz, having just won the match against the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, celebrates his victory by placing his index finger on his mouth, thus intimating the public to be quiet, turning on itself. A gesture of defiance addressed to the spectators of the Suzanne-Lenglen court who continued to heckle the eighth player in the world throughout the meeting, despite the referee’s repeated admonitions.

The provocation had the immediate effect of further annoying the public, disappointed by the elimination of the last tricolor player in the running, who began to boo even more. The ire of the audience even goes so far as to disrupt the traditional post-match interview, despite the efforts of former player Marion Bartoli to restore calm. “The crowd was so great, so encouraging, I wanted to make sure I was going to win”, ironically the American in a moment of calm, before cutting short. He then did not appear at a press conference and therefore did not comment on the attitude of the French supporters.

“It’s completely degenerating”

“It was madness, it was awesome”enthused Arthur Rinderknech, who declares himself “rather for this kind of football atmosphere”. The loser of the evening judged the atmosphere « comparable » to the one he knew in Australia, “even if the Australians were much drunker than the French”he says.

“A chauvinistic public who carries his player and tries to unpin the opponent, that does not bother me”writes for his part Quentin Moynet, journalist specializing in tennis at The Team. « When it happens (more often and sometimes more violently) in Australia or at the US Open, it would be part of folklore, but in France it would become disrespectful? », he asks on Twitter. He believes that the attitude “very bad loser” of the public once the match is over is open to criticism, but not during.

An opinion that is not that of everyone. “It’s completely degenerating”regrets, for example, Benoît Maylin, tennis specialist for the program “Sans filet”. “The night sessions seem to have brought in quite a few morons. Kind of a soccer atmosphere. A lot (are) alcoholic »he laments, still on Twitter. “Is it Roland-Garros or the Pinder circus, there? Ashamed “also protests on the social network the influential account of Madame Tennis.

Change in behavior since the Covid

This unusual attitude at the Porte d’Auteuil is a “juxtaposition of several elements”explains to The cross the youtuber Service Volée, specialized in tennis. Firstly, the behaviors of supporters have “evolved since the Covid”he says, citing the work of sociologist Nicolas Hourcade, and sports arenas are becoming more and more “places of outlet”. The more electric atmosphere of the night sessions, these nocturnal matches which made their appearance at Roland-Garros in 2021, also changes the involvement of spectators. A reality all the more concrete “when it’s a Frenchman who plays”. This is how Gaël Monfils won his match in the first round, Tuesday, May 30, in an overexcited atmosphere which recalled that which had carried Gilles Simon last year.

“It’s good that both exist”considers Service Volée, citing on the one hand the English tournament of Wimbledon, known for its cozy atmosphere, and on the other the warmer atmospheres of the Davis Cup or the American and Australian tournaments. “But once the match is over, you have to respect the winnerhe insists. Last night, the public was next to the plate. »