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French Open Sidelights: Why the fans must be educated!

June 08, 2015 09:32 IST

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France gestures to the crowd

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gestures to the crowd as he leaves the court . Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

The French Open crowds must be educated in order to avoid a repeat of the boos directed at Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka when he played against home players, the tournament director said on Sunday.

Wawrinka was booed by the court Suzanne Lenglen fans before his fourth-round match against Frenchman Gilles Simon and after his semi-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Jack Sock of the United States poses for photographs with fans

USA's Jack Sock poses for photographs with fans. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Gilbert Ysern said it was unfair for the crowd to whistle players.

"This year in particular, things got out of hand two or three times and we're not proud of that, it's annoying."

"You (reporters) must not hesitate to say it and to write it, to say that the champions do not deserve this and that it is not acceptable on a sports ground," Ysern told a news conference ahead of the men's singles final between Wawrinka and World No 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

"We have to carry this message together. This kind of behaviour should not happen because it is very embarrassing."

"We had always been very proud to say our fans were connoisseurs. That they were great, that they could get carried away but always respectful of the players," Ysern added.

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