Goffin sounds the alarm after winning in a more than hostile atmosphere: "It's gone too far, it's total disrespect"
It was one of the big fights of the day on Tuesday. In a match that started much later than expected due to rain, David Goffin finally toppled a heroic Giovani Mpetshi Perricard (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 in 3h30). On a volcanic Court 14 that at times felt more like a soccer stadium than a tennis court, Goffin played a very strong match (56 winners, 27 unforced errors), frustrating his opponent and the public at the same time. Stuttering for months, he seems to have found his best form at the best of times.
Having qualified for the second round, the former world No.7 was keen to reflect on the welcome he received on Court 14. Indeed, for over 3 hours, the atmosphere was one of rare hostility. The French crowd not only cheered loudly for their player, but also booed a Belgian whose behavior was beyond reproach. Such images, whatever one may say, are never pleasant, and it seems that the French fans crossed the red line on Tuesday.
Chambrising the crowd at the moment of his victory, Goffin confessed to being very upset in the press conference. Asked about it, he explained: "I'll have to be careful what I say. When you've been insulted for three and a half hours, you've got to take the audience on a bit. Clearly, it's gone too far, it's totally disrespectful. It's just too much. It's becoming soccer, and soon there'll be smoke bombs, hooligans and fighting in the stands.
It's getting ridiculous. Some people are there more to cause trouble than to create a good atmosphere. [...] Today, someone spat his chewing gum at me. It's getting complicated. That's why I wanted to stay calm. If I start getting worked up about it, it can destabilize me. When you've got 3h30 with the audience banging on your head, you're happy to take the piss for two seconds. They've earned it."
Insisting on the seriousness of the acts committed, he explained that he wasn't the only one complaining: "A lot of people are complaining, a lot of referees who feel there's a lot of disrespect. It's echoed by a lot of people in the dressing room and the ATP authorities. We're going to have to do something about it. [...] I think it's only happening in France. At Wimbledon, of course, there's no such thing. Nor in Australia. And at the US Open, it's pretty quiet. Here, it's really an unhealthy atmosphere."
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