Spain’s Jaume Munar implied the unruly, distracting behavior of the Roland Garros Chatrier stadium during his second round duel with Arthur Fils was a contributing factor for his losing the epic five setter. Munar declared the Roland Garros fans are the most irritating on the ATP World Tour.
Jaume Munar: “I’m going to be very sincere. I find it perfectly fine if they cheer for the other player. I’m very used to that and it doesn’t bother me. What is an absolute lack of respect is not stopping singing, shouting nonsense, and constantly interrupting because it prevents the game from progressing and unfolding normally. They engage in a very entertaining show for the audience, but they don’t realize that we are doing our job. It’s the most annoying and fanatic crowd in the world, the flag weighs too much here.”
“In New York and Australia, they understand sports differently. They can cheer a lot and have a sense of spectacle, but they never disrespect the players. In this tournament, it is necessary for people to calm down a bit because this is a real circus.”
This is not the first time a player has been crushed mentally by the antics of the French Open crowds. Martina Hingis was in control of the 1999 final vs Steffi Graf – up a set and break – until she crossed the net to question a line call, which provoked the Chatrier stadium to go against her and fully support Graf. Hingis then crumbled mentally and lost that final.
Fils is into the third round and on the verge of cracking the ATP top ten for the first time.
Arthur Fils · French Open · Jaume Munar · Roland Garros
Steve · May 30, 2025 at 9:00 am
The crowd was outlandish during that match but wasn’t it just recently people were saying the Roman crowds are the worst? Someone has said about US Open crowds too I’m sure
I agree with Munar during serves & play it’s too much. Then again in college basketball they hoot and holler during free throw shots.
I personally can serve okay when a train goes by or a plane flys overhead but I’m guessing not too well if someone is singing in French at me. 🙂
What’s your opinion on this?
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2025 at 9:39 am
Manufactured manipulated crowd interference has been going on for decades or half centuries or perhaps forever. To have someone yell out just as you’re in your serve motion is very very disturbing and many players will crumble from it. But some are so tough and hardened they focus through it. Like Chakvetadze did in Fed Cup Russia vs Israel which was the most rude and offensive tennis crowd I ever saw. They enraged Chakvetadze with their disgusting disrespect but she fought through it and destroyed Obziler and the crowd by winning. Obziler was just as much at fault for doing nothing to stop the crowd from being terrible animals. Djokovic has had to endure and fight through bad crowds too but we learned his solution to the problem. Tennis crowds must behave, a sound right before you are about to hit a shot can ruin the shot. And one miss can change the match around. Tennis is a fragile sport. Crowd interference has to be closely monitored and rude violators need to be kicked out.
Steve · May 30, 2025 at 1:22 pm
I’ll have to check out that match.
Come to think of it even if someone unexpectedly says something trying to help you just before contact like “keep your eye on the ball” it can throw you off.
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2025 at 1:45 pm
It sure can. Any distraction can cause a miss. Here is Monfils revealing some insider truths about Gasquet’s game. https://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/did-monfils-expose-gasquets-achilles-heel/