Swiatek tries to educate the crowd: "Cheer between points, not during, please"

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Guillaume Nonque

le 29/05/2024 à 22h05

2 min to read

Roland Garros Swiatek

After David Goffin's reaction on Tuesday, when he didn't at all appreciate the attitude of some Court 14 spectators, which he deemed "clearly disrespectful", it was Iga Swiatek's turn to speak out on the subject. After her epic victory over Noami Osaka, the world number 1 took to the microphone to ask the Roland-Garros crowd to take more care with the way they cheer on the players. Not entirely at ease with speaking out (her voice cracked), the Pole courageously expressed what many players feel, without necessarily daring to say it for fear of the consequences. Even if the reception of this speech was mixed on Court Philippe Chatrier, there's no doubt that it will help to make the message heard.

Iga Swiatek (to the audience): "There's one thing I want to say, and I'm sorry to say it. I respect you all enormously. And I know that we play first and foremost for you, because tennis is a spectacle. And I also know that I earn my living thanks to you. But sometimes, when there's a lot of pressure, if you're shouting during a point or before a return of serve, it's really hard to keep our concentration. I usually keep that to myself, but... I'm really that type of player who tries to be 'in the zone', really focused.

For us, what happens on the court is very serious. We devote our whole lives to trying to play better and better. And sometimes it's hard to accept that, because the stakes are so high and there's so much money at stake. So winning or losing a few points can make a big difference. So, please, if you can cheer us on between the points, but not during the points, that would be really fantastic.

And I hope you'll still like me, because I know the French crowd can dislike certain players and heckle them a lot (nervous laugh). But I love you and I've always loved playing here in Paris. So if we could continue like this."