Amelie Mauresmo’s booze ban on the French Open courts is a total overreaction.
The spitting of chewing gum at David Goffin was outrageous and if the individual can be found they should be banned.
And the tournament director’s resolve to beef up security and further empower umpires to remove troublemakers is perfectly reasonable.
But banning alcohol feels like giving the whole classroom detention because of one child’s bad behaviour.
It forces fans to choose between watching tennis and having a drink; on the outside courts, it is not as though you can pop out for a white wine and then come back – there were snaking queues on all courts yesterday and if you vacate your seat it’s straight to the back of the line.
Amelie Mauresmo’s ban on booze in the French Open stands is a total overreaction
The individual who spat chewing gum at David Goffin should be banned, but why should everyone else be punished?
The raucous atmosphere at Roland Garros is part of its charm and players understand this
Yes, Roland Garros is a raucous venue but that is part of its charm. Home players receive wild support but that is the same at the Australian and US Opens and, yes, even at stately Wimbledon.
Italian Matteo Arnaldi has played and beaten two French players so far and he said: ‘For me it’s normal: I play in Italy, I have my crowd. I play in France against a French player, I have the crowd against me.’
On the issue raised by Iga Swiatek of fans calling out in the middle of points or between first and second serves, Paula Badosa had this to say to the world No1: ‘I think she cannot complain, because I played Court 8 and 9 and you can hear everything.
‘I can hear (noise from) Suzanne Lenglen, Philippe Chatrier, Court 6, 7 during the points. I think she’s very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier.’
In discussing the issue, Mauresmo mentioned a difference in fan behaviour post-Covid. Speaking in French, she said people had returned from the pandemic ‘soif (thirsty)’ to embrace the emotion of tennis.
Well after her new diktat, fans will be thirstier than ever.