Taylor Fritz shushes booing French Open fans in awkward moment after 2nd round win

American Taylor Fritz won a tough four-set match, 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4, during the second round of the French Open on Thursday, but the crowd booed him.

Fritz, the No. 9 seed in the major tournament, eliminated France’s last hope of winning the men’s title by defeating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Because there were no more French men in the draw, the home crowd let Fritz hear it throughout the game.

Sustained boos and whistles descended from the Court Philippe Chatrier stands after the American repeatedly shushed the fans after defeating Arthur Rinderknech in four sets under the lights. Fritz kept his cool as he prepared for his post-match interview, barely able to exchange words with court-side interviewer Marion Bartoli.

“I’m sorry I actually can’t hear you,” he told the former Wimbledon champion. “The crowd was so great honestly … that I had to let it fire me up. They cheered so well for me I wanted to make sure I won,” he added, having ended the French presence in the singles draws at Roland Garros by beating the last home favourite.

The crowd was volatile; corporate seats are frequently empty at lunchtime, but when a French player requires assistance, spectators transform the normally quiet courts into a wild arena, and the claycourt Grand Slam provides an atmosphere unrivaled at other majors. This is exactly what Fritz, like others before him, felt during his match against Rinderknech.

None of the 28 home players who began the tournament on Sunday advanced to the third round. The only other time the host nation suffered such a humiliating annihilation was in 2021. “After hearing about it at least 200 times in the crowd, I was aware of it,” said 78th-ranked Rinderknech of his country’s woeful performance this week. “I did my best.”