Bad atmosphere at Roland-Garros: “I was surprised to see so many players come to tell me that they were on my side,” says David Goffin

Goffin returned to the episode from earlier this week. MAXPPP – BENOIT DOPPAGNE

After his second round defeat against Alexander Zverev 7-6 [4], 6-2, 6-2 Thursday May 30, David Goffin once again addressed his statements on the bad atmosphere at Roland-Garros and the measures taken by the tournament accordingly.

For several days, everyone has been talking about it. Of Rafael Nadal's defeat against Alexander Zverev ? Rotten weather in Paris since the start of the week ? Not only that. But also David Goffin's exit on the bad atmosphere at Roland-Garros.

"When you get insulted for three and a half hours, you have to annoy the audience a little, a-t- he said on Tuesday following his victory against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Clearly, this goes too far, it’s total disrespect. It’s really too much. It's becoming football, soon there will be smoke bombs, hooligans and there will be fights in the stands. This is starting to get ridiculous."

Also read: Bad atmosphere at Roland-Garros: "Alcohol in the stands is over", "We will remove the people concerned", the tournament toughens the tone

"I’was comfortable saying that kind of thing"

At the end of Thursday afternoon, Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo appeared before the press to announce measures to combat these problems. As a result, no more alcohol in the stands and troublemakers will be excluded from the stadium.

"I simply said what I thought after my match, he added Thursday after his defeat against Zverev. I was surprised to see so many players come to tell me that they were on my side. And I didn't know that it was going to do so much, take on proportions like that and as much buzz, let's say, until taking action in the tournament."

"But I was comfortable saying that kind of thing, a-t -he continued. That’s what I thought. And when we know that we have the support behind a lot of people, we're not too afraid to say it."