Gauff and Mouratoglou tell Swiatek noisy crowd is part of tennis
A few days ago, noted veteran David Goffin spoke out against the Parisian crowd after enduring over five sets of what he described as abuse. Iga Swiatek didn't have such a dramatic experience with the crowd, but she took issue with it after her match against Naomi Osaka.
It's not a secret that the crowd in Paris is quite rowdy, and sometimes, it gets out of line. Novak Djokovic had a long response when asked about it, as it's become a big topic this year.
The event organizers also took some measures to defuse the situation, including banning alcohol in the stands, as alcohol isn't quite known to defuse a tense situation.
Gauff, as one of the top players, was also asked about it, and she shared her thoughts on the whole matter. As an American, she's no stranger to crowds, and she likes big crowds who are passionate about the match.
"I like big crowds obviously, and I like when people are passionate about the match. I know sometimes during the point it can be tough when there's crowd noise, especially when it's unexpected. I think constant noise is better."
"I think to an extent it's tough because you're watching a match at such high stakes, and I see myself as a spectator. Even when I'm watching my little brother play, you want to make a noise. It is tough sometimes. I think for the most part people are respectful to the players."
Also, former Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou responded to Swiatek after the Polish player asked the Roland Garros crowd not to shout during rallies. The 3-time French Open champion survived a tough match against former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and used the on-court interview to request more silence from the fans.
The French coach posted a video on social media defending noisy crowds, stating that there will always be individuals who cross the line, but they are usually a minority, and loud audiences are an important part of the sport.
The former coach of Serena Williams and Simona Halep emphasized that fan excitement is an essential part of sports and that the public has the right to shout at such events: "Sorry Iga Swiatek, I think fans should be allowed to shout out during tennis matches. Emotion is what makes sports great! Though, there is one thing happening right now that I don’t agree with – I explain at the end," Mouratoglou wrote.