The French Open crowds are notoriously hostile to any advice or criticism, so world No 1 Iga Swiatek rolled the dice when she asked out at the Paris fans after her win against Naomi Osaka.

 

 

Swiatek came through a titanic second-round clash with fellow four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka to reach the French Open third round.

Osaka looked set to pull off her biggest win in years when she led the world No 1 and defending champion 5-2 in the third set.

Iga Swiatek fears backlash from French Open fans after passionate appeal

But the 26-year-old from Japan will have nightmares about a missed forehand as Swiatek survived a match point to come from brink of defeat and win 7-6 (1) 1-6 7-5.

It was a remarkable effort from Osaka, the former world number one who only returned to action after maternity leave in January.

 

It was only three years ago that she pulled out of the French Open, suffering from depression, and put her tennis career on hold.

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She has never particularly liked playing on the clay, either, having not progressed past the third round in Paris, and is now ranked 134 in the world.

Swiatek, by contrast, has looked invincible on her best surface this season, winning her last 13 matches including titles in Madrid and Rome, and was a red-hot favourite for a third successive Roland Garros title, and a fourth in five years.

With the Roland Garros crowd in raptures after a thrilling contest between two four-time Grand Slam champions, Swiatek picked her moment to criticise spectators who shouted out during crucial points in the match.

“I have huge respect for you guys and I know we’re playing for you but sometimes under a lot of pressure when you scream something during the rally it’s really hard to be focused,” she said in her on-court interview.

“I usually don’t bring this up because I want to be a player that’s in the zone and focused, but this is serious for us.

 

 

“We’re fighting our whole lives to be better and better. Sometimes it’s hard to accept that. The stakes are big. There’s a lot of money to win. Losing a few points may change a lot.

“Please guys if you can support us between the rallies but not during, that would be great. I hope you’re still gonna like me because I know the French crowd might get some players they don’t like and boo. But I love you guys and always love playing here, so let’s continue that.”

Swiatek’s comments drew a predictably mixed reaction from the crowd and she continued her comments in her press conference, as she suggested the unwelcome distractions from the spectators affected her focus at crucial moments.
“I got most frustrated when I missed the drive volley as someone shouted when the ball was flying at me,” she said, referring to an incident in the final set.

“I knew that I should be more focused and not let this distract me, but sometimes it’s hard because in tennis we are used to the stadium being quiet.

“It happened more before the returns and that’s why I speak out about it.

“I know the French crowds can be enthusiastic, but in tennis we have rules that we have silent and I wanted to point out that it is not easy for us.

“I know the French crowds can be harsh, I don’t want to be under the radar right now. So I’m not sure that is a good decision. I just hope they treat me like a human and we can get on with it.”

Swiatek is right to suggest the French crowds are traditionally hostile to any snipes from players, so it will be interesting to see how the Paris fans react when she plays her next match.