“They say it themselves and it’s true, the Parisian crowd is pretty stupid. I think the French don’t like it when a Spaniard wins. Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior.”
That’s Uncle Toni Nadal talking to Spanish radio after his nephew, Rafa, got bumped out of Roland Garros on Sunday to Robin Soderling. (via The Guardian)
The Swede underdog was buoyed by the cheers of the French crowd, which offered little love to the four-time defending champion. In key points of the match, the stands shuddered under cheers of “Ro-bin! Ro-bin!” John McEnroe quipped that Soderling had never experienced such support – in Sweden.
Nadal noticed, too:
“This tournament is so important, such a beautiful tournament for me. . .I wish when I’m back they (the crowd) can support me a bit more in key moments.”
Flashback to Rafa’s 2005 Roland Garros debut, when the crowd was so angry at an umpire’s (correct) decision against Rafa’s opponent, Sebastien Grosjean, that play was halted for a full seven minutes under a barrage of catcalls and whistles.
“The crowd yesterday didn’t behave as they should behave when watching a game of tennis.” the 18 year-old Rafa said later. (via The Independent)
Rafa lost that set against the Frenchman, but went on to win the match and then his first title in Paris.
He wasn’t so lucky this time , but Rafa and his fans can take cold comfort in knowing that he isn’t alone. Many a great Champion has been humbled by the Roland Garros audience.
Last year’s target was Maria Sharapova, who had the nerve to be ranked No. 1 and show emotion while losing to Dinara Safina in the fourth round. The crowd hissed her off the court for the crime of caring too much and too loudly. The Guardian described the jeers as “nasty, bullying” and the spectators as a “mob on the move.” Maria, of course, said it was just business:
“I can’t please everyone; that’s not in my job description. I’m an athlete. I go out there and fight my heart out. I mean, they paid for a ticket to watch me so they must appreciate me on some level, right?”
Even more contentious was the 2003 French Open semi-final between Justine Henin and Serena Williams, where the crowd was so pro-Henin, that they booed Serena for protesting the Belgian’s gamesmanship. Here’s a (scratchy) video of the famous “hand” incident:
Serena was so rattled by Justine, the crowd, and the moment, that she ended up losing that game and, eventually, the match. She couldn’t hide her disappointment, afterwards. You can guess who “they” are:
Sometimes the crowd behaves less like a lynch mob and more like a Greek chorus. My all-time favorite French Open scene is from the 1999 final between Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf:
The most important thing to remember before catcalling the French Open crowd: for every Champion sent steaming into the locker room, there’s an enraptured underdog left blowing kisses on the court. Who can forget the “Mexican wave” that brought Gaston Gaudio back from two sets down against Guillermo Coria in the 2004 final? He was just two games away from defeat when the cheeky crowd rallied him to victory:
“I was too nervous,” Gaudio said later. “After the wave, the people started to help me, and I relaxed a little bit.” (via USA Today)
But why is the French Crowd so finicky? Why can’t the spectators be respectful, like the British, or eating hot dogs, like the Americans? What motivates these passionate and pissy performances on one of the sport’s great stages?
Blame it on the “Poulidor Syndrome.”
GTT commenter and French tennis fan, “whynotme” educated me on this affliction that tortures the collective French psyche. It’s named after Raymond Poulidor, an immensely popular and unlucky French cyclist from the 1960s:
“Poulidor was a French cyclist, very talented, he won a lot of tournaments, but he never EVER won the Tour de France, though he finished 3 times as second, and 5 times as third. Each and every time, something happened to him that prevented him from winning it (whether it was multiples falls, flat tires or even a motorcycle who ran into him!) And that’s why he had a storied rivalry with Jacques Antequil, who on the contrary was winning the Tour (5 times). What happened in France is that everyone started rooting for Poulidor, everybody wanted him to finally win. And so French people kind of disliked Antequil, if not hated him. He was booed, they whistled at him.”
Poulidor explained the phenomenon this way: “The more unlucky I was, the more the public liked me and the more money I earned.” (via Wikipedia)
See, sometimes irrational behavior is anything but! Even Uncle Toni might reconsider his slur: the crowd doesn’t hate a Spaniard, just a Jacques Antequil.
Hate the sickness, not the sufferer, Uncle Toni.
Thanks again to “Whynotme” for the insight and on-site reports from RG!
Rafael Nadal wishing he had a face mask: photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images via Daylife.
Tags: French Open, Hingis, Nadal, Raymond Poulidor, Roland Garros, Serena, Sharapova, Soderling, tennis, Toni Nadal
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For whatever reason, the French crowd does not do the right thing to bully these athletes. They did ruin these athletes career. They do not deserve to be tennis fans. I despise them. I think France should not hold a Grand Slam.
I agree with Uncle Tony: stupid crowd and most brutal people I ever seen. For this reason, I think they will never ever have a happiness to see one of their countrymen to hold a French Open title. There is a reason for that happen. That is their brutality. They have my curse.
I knew about the Poulidor Syndrome, but in that 60’s case, they were against the guy who always won because there was someone they wanted to win instead. I think they’re more fickle now. They want Roger to win RG? Maybe. But wait ’till Monfils starts calling the crowd to his aid. I think they’ll support the frenchman (which is only fair, btw). So the “Poulidor” will keep changing during the tournament while the Antequil remained the same (at least the same until he lost, the place is empty now)?
I think that this syndrome happens too, but since 2002, I’m not so sure, but I believe the only RG champion who wasn’t Spanish was Argentinean, right? Seven titles, six for their neighbor Spain. And many countries have some beef with their close neighbors, so maybe there’s a little of nations rivalry there.
God never blesses selfish and brutal people that is why no French player can win any Grand Slam not only the French Open. And they will never. Sport is for competition. Let the best man wins. Not the brutal, selfish and less talented ones.
Well your god must have wanted the best man to beat Nadal then! Soderling was certainly an angel from god! And before you go blabbing about a French player not winning a GS recently, 2 words: Amelie Mauresmo! She’s french in case you didn’t know (you probably didn’t seing how superficial your comments have been so far!)
i guess you are a French? Oh who is that nobody Amelie Mauresmo? Is it the lucky one night stand winner who had a title when Hennin retired due to injury? If yes, where is she now? Is she still in that French Open?
If you call Soldering an angel, I know how good you are. Sometimes, satan can win.
I’m fron Argentina you sod! And Mauresmo is a 2 (2!) GS champions: Australian Open and Wimbledon! Justin Henin was barely average on grass so the idea that Mauresmo won only because Justin retired is laughable! I guess you really proved you don’t know sh*t in tennis! And what are you, american, the religious crazy talk would certainly indicate so! Go back to your bible bashing and leave tennis to people who have the intelligence to enjoy the sport without saying stupid things at the drop of a hat! Isn’t there an abortion clinic you have to picket or a abortion doctor you need to shoot?
Their behaviour was absolutely disgusting… frankly, I don’t know of any *civilised* society that behaves quite like that. Seriously, go get some hot dogs, people!
@ CF: I completely agree with that they wanted someone else to win then. Here’s they’re just being boorish as usual.
Lol @ the word verification- it says ‘charged hamstring’!
I’m collecting the word verifications to make the best poem ever! Right now: “inlets Kansas” Sounds like a Gus Van Sant film.
Martina N. said that the French Open crowd is very tough on women players who complain or show too much emotion. It must be really hard to be out there, without any teammates around you, and feel the whole crowd cheering against you.
I just don’t get cheering for Soderling. If it was Monfils or Tsonga or Roger, I can see it more. Rafa isn’t a complainer or a braggart. He can hold his head high knowing he handled the situation with grace.
I don’t think I can watch Roger’s match with Monfils if the crowd acts that way again. I know I’m a coward, but it would break my heart to see them booing Roger!
I think in this case, the outcome matters. If Roger loses, it will be even more heartbreaking because the idea of him losing the one match where he didn’t have crowd support sounds horribly sad. And just wait, because the moment he calls the umpire to check one point, they’ll probably eat him alive.
Now, if he wins, a possibly hostile crowd will be more like an amusing sidenote, since I believe they’d flock right back to him and be 100% on his side in the semis.
I’m not counting on the win, though. The prospect of a confident, precise, knee pain-free, crowd favorite Monfils scares the hell out of me.
I definitely think it’s better, from the crowd standpoint, for Roger to play Monfils in the quarters instead of the semis. That way IF he gets through (I’m sharing your Monfils fear right now) he should have the crowd support for the rest of the tournament.
Okay – word verification is getting really strange: “choking on” Hopefully that won’t apply to Roger!
Well, it can get nasty out there, but honestly it’s part of what makes the French Open the French Open – like rain at Wimbledon.
I love it and hate it at the same time – which is loads of fun.
I whole heartedly concur. I also love it and hate it at the same time. The French crowd never fail to voice their displeasure. If your’e an elite athlete you should be able to block it out. Afterall Roger Federer did, when he played Andre Agassi at the USO, his faults were cheered, errors were cheered, it was basically 20,000 + people against Roger and his little box. Did he complain? No, he simply said, I understand why they did it. And fast forward today, the USO crowd loves Roger Federer. Toni Nadal should have taken the same route and maybe 3 years later the French crowd would love Rafa. There is no law out there that requires a crowd to love you because you are the defending Champion.
Hi Chivitah!
Yes, Roger handled that moment sooo well. And he did play Monfils in the semis last year, so I’m sure he knows what to expect. . .It’s really Monfil’s game, and not the crowd, that has me worried (as a Fed fan.)
I am not against Roger but I dont think the French deserves to have Roger as their champion.
I would have understood if the crowd had been supporting a French player against Rafa – or Roger who they seem to see as one of their own – but the whole crowd supporting Robin effing Soderling? That is not remotely the equivalent of Roger or anyone else having the crowd against them at the USO when playing a US player – crowds always cheer for players from their own country and all players are used to that. This was just vindictiveness, pure and simple.
Rating the preferences of the French crowd:
1. A French player 2. An underdog 3. A third set comeback from the brink of despair (they did start cheering Rafa towards the end, and even helped Maria Sharpaova along today)
That’s no way to get the crowd on your side next year, Uncle Toni!!
Uncle Toni can take ‘em!
Ive been watching CNN world sport and they touched on that subject of uncle toni calling the french crowd stupid and the anchor said that Nadal and his team should expect a more hostile reaction/behavior towards them next year.
Yeah, the French crowd will doubtless be even ruder to Rafa next year, but as Freaky said, Uncle Toni (and Rafa) can take ‘em. (OT note: I think Uncle Toni is hot.)
I think Uncle tony is hot, too. I guess the Nadal team just cannot stand this any more.
to me, the French does not deserve to hold a Grand Slam if they cannot at least organise a nice environment for players to play. Is it a football match here?
Uncle Toni is kinda hot. The other uncle, Miguel Angel? SUPER hot!
Definitely not a smart move on Uncle Toni’s behaviour. It’s so strange, too. You’d think Nadal’s team would be smarter and more level-headed about these kind of things… but I guess even they were heartbroken (even if Nadal tried to play down his own disappointment in his presser).
As for the French crowd cheering against/booing Fed in his QF against Monfils… I will be very, *very* surprised if they do such a thing. Yes, they will cheer *for* Monfils, but not *against* Roger. I mean, he’s always been a crowd favourite, and he got such massive support against Haas. And they were very reasonable (and unusually subdued) in the Fed – Mathieu match, so…
Really hoping for a Fed win in straights, but after the Haas match, I won’t be surprised (though I will probably get another heart attack) if it’s another fivesetter – or even a loss. )’:
Yeah, i feel that they(French)wants Roger to win this FO as it is the only thing that he hasn’t won which makes him an Underdog in their eyes…
And since we are on the subject of the French public,maybe this piece of news will make my case strong.(via RogerFederer.com)
“Roger was awarded the Prix Orange as voted by the French public and press online for a record fifth consecutive time.
The Prix Orange goes to the ambassador of sportsmanship, 2009 marked the 29th edition of the award. “It is a pleasure to receive this award again, it is maybe because I spend so much time with the press,” said Roger.”
Interesting isnt it?
GO ROGER!!!!PARIS REALLY LOVES YOU!
yay! he deserves that award!
I dont think Roger what the suport like this. I think he wants to win by his own talent not by some mean help like to eliminate his main opponent for him.
To support the player you lile is one thing but to boo his opponent like this is something I dont think a good picture for any sport specially the elite tennis.
The Wimbledon crowd is the total opposite of the French crowd. The Australian crowd is the best. The US Open crowd is next.
However, I like the Wimbledon crowd best.
Fortunately , roger is loved by all of them(Australian,Wimbledon,US OPEN)crowd.so its ok…
I agree with Uncle Toni. The French crowd had the opportunity to support a young champion to make history, but they just couldn’t rise to the occassion. I don’t think it’s because they don’t like Rafa, I think they fear him. He’s done what none of their own has ever been able to do. They can pretend to like Roger, but put a French man in the hunt and they’ll drop Roger like a hot potato.
They dont have to pretend to like Roger.They like Roger, otherwise he wont win the Prix Orange Award for 5 consecutive times if they dont.As i understand, it was an online voting from French public and the press.So i guess is that says it all.
Its Nadal and his team who didn’t rise to the ocassion.It doesn’t mean when you are nos 1, the crowd would automatically warm up to you and kiss your ass.Maybe they have seen something unpleasant in him way back to treat him the way they did.its sports.you cant always please the crowd and a true mark of a champion have to deal it with graciously and apparently he can’t hence the backlashing from his camp.maybe its one of the major factors that he lost the match in the end.he was clearly rattled by the booes he got and he cant accept the fact that the French crowd supported the underdog Soderling.Now whose being a snob and arrogant? sour grapes!
Are you saying that you will never get depressed when you see the real world brutality? I guess you are always loved by everybody. I agree that this time Rafa let the crowd affecting him. Rafa has lost his fight perhaps how sad he is when he finds out how brutal people can be. A very nice and polite person as he is must find this so much to stand. If he never wins a French Open he might have more motivation. I would not say Rafa expect people love him. But when he fall down, everyone who has a soul worry if he injured. But in fact the crowd cheer louder and happier. I think that is the peak where Rafa just lost all his love for competing. I congratulate the French crowd on their success but I don’t wish them to have what they wish at the end. Wimbledon 2008 and Australian 2009 go to tennis history as something beatiful to dream and praise, but French Open 2009 is just something for people discuss about morality. You might support them but I doubt not many including me will agree.
I don’t think that Nadal expected to be supported because he was the defending champion at RG. He’s never even hinted at that. He has consistently and gracefully accepted through the years that pretty much every time he plays Federer (which he’s done a lot in major finals), no matter what country, the crowd will favor Federer. So why would anyone think that Nadal expects support just for being the champion?
All Nadal would have liked was SOME support at “key moments.” What Toni said is not what Rafa said. And Rafa is 23 years old. He can speak for himself and his comments should be acknowledged as much as or more than Toni’s.
Then he wanted the support right?but unfortunately ,he didnt get it so he has to deal with it.Don’t blame the crowd for choosing who to root for.He didn’t play his best tennis period.What can he do if the crowd is so set against him?If he is truly a champion, with or without support at key moments, he should have handled it positively.he is just into his first year of reign as the top ranked player and he should be ready for this possibilities if he wants to stay on top.He shouldnt be too grumpy about it.
Very good point, Sasha! Uncle Toni and Rafa are two separate people.
I don’t think this is a Roger vs. Rafa thing at all. I think it’s just an interesting story because Uncle Toni reacted so strongly. Which brought up the topic of the notorious French crowd. . .which then led to Poulidor Syndrome. . . and the psyches of sports fans in general!
I stand by what I said – the French crowd is awesome and awful at the same time. They add spice. Sometimes it’s too spicy!
Hey freakyfrites ! I’m glad you made an article out of my comment, because I feel soooo much hate for the Parisian crowd right now that it’s good if this Poulidor syndrome can explain a part of their attitude, even if it doesn’t excuse it of course. Personally, as I’m French + a Fedophile, even if I understand that it was quite disrespectful, because of everything Rafa has accomplished, I find their attitude very logical, at least in a French way of thinking…
It’s funny how Roger is so much a fan favorite here. Even in his match against Acasuso, I was in the crowd on the Chatrier, and as much as French people usually want to see five setters and matches with suspense, they clearly wanted Roger to win that 3rd set (the one he came back from down 2-5 to win it) and cheered him all the way.
Today in France, TVs and radios are interviewing a lot af RG spectators about who they will support in the Monfils/Roger match, and it’s clearly 50/50… It may even be a little bit more in favour of Roger because in the last days of RG, the seats are mainly reserved for people of the French tennis federation, a well-known Fed fan crowd. And the people who support Monfils are rather lambda French people, who don’t know tennis that much and who just want to see a Frenchman victorious. But a lot of people will be torn between “heart choice” and “patriotic choice”, so I think most of the time the crowd will simply cheer great points and expect a great match. But if Monfils start to gain the upper hand and to excite the crowd, they may go crazy ! But let’s not talk about disasters………
Roger PLEASE just DO it !!
HI!!! Whynotme, thank you for the idea for the article. I wish I could have researched it further, but I had a self-imposed deadline.
Really interesting report about the media interviewing the French crowd – I do understand the “heart choice” vs. “patriotic choice” problem – even when it’s another country’s great “hope” that is trying for the win. It is pretty cool to see that Roger, who was once considered “cold” and “robotic” is now the “heart choice” of so many people!
It will add another dimension to the match, either way, but since they played in similar conditions last year I’m sure Roger is prepared.
Personally, I hope you are proud of your home tournament! It is so exciting and has so much history, and the crazy French crowd just adds to that.
Yeah I also find it great that his “cold” image has faded away ! I think it’s mainly because we’ve all seen him struggling recently, and I think people tend to see him these days as a “wounded beast” you know ! He’s lost his Wimbledon crown, his no1 ranking, the final in Australia… And he’s shown much more emotions I think. Of course there was the crying in Australia first of all. They showed the scene on every evening news here in France, and it touched a lot of people, who realised how much it meant to him. In France he was not considered AT ALL as a “crybaby” for that, not like I have read in numerous English-speaking blogs and sites (among other “very nice” things….) Granted, it was rather on anti-fed sites. But still, I was really shocked !
Anyway, even here in RG he shows a lot more his emotions I think. The fist pumps seem like 5 times the usual amount, and after victories he reacts very strongly. Of course it’s normal against Haas after coming back from 2 sets to love, but he celebrated his victory against Monfils nearly the same, though it was pretty much an easy match in the end. People see it means a lot to him, even after all he’s won, everything he’s achieved. Right now, he’s everything but a robot, and that’s for the better !
And as for my home tournament, I will be even prouder if it had the name “Roger Federer” on the winners list !
Its not only the French crowd but tennis commentators as well as the media. Weak minds are easily swayed by commentators who always make Rafa out to be some a tough inhuman machine, especially the British commentators who are clearly biased and make derogatory remarks whenever he plays. However, the French crowd is particularly repulsive in their behaviour toward anything or anyone who is not French. To quote Uncle Toni : it is the behaviour of those who consider themselves superior. Now can someone please tell me what they base this opinion on?
2 words to explain the misplaced feeling of superiority: french fries!
HAHAHAH! Yes, inventing french fries (not to mention all those yummy cheeses, pastries and french bread) does give the French some bragging rights!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
i so love their French Fries and their Rissottos and their alfrescos!
Actually, the Belgian claim they invented the fries, and the French stole them. A Dutch (of course) friend says Belgian claim they are wronged by the French (stole the fries), the Germans (Belgian Beer FTW) and the Swiss (Swiss chocolate? Nah, Belgian chocolate is WAY better)
Seriously, french fries or belgian fries, I love France. It’s a beautiful country, with a very insteresting history and smart people. The French know how to make things beautiful and sofisticated, they know how to make food taste delicious. And, you guys are talking about bragging about fries? Well, and how about french kiss? That’s something to brag about!
The Belgian are my personal heroes, just for Duvel alone. And now that you bring up the chocolate and the fries, I’m thinking I might have to move there.
As for France and the french: French kisses, champagne, Chanel No. 5, the art of scarf tying, Godard, the list goes on and on. . .
No one can explain it Loren. If we can, there are no wars in this world.
Hope this help:
Ken Follet wrote in one of his book, I think it was in “The pillars of the Earth” that God created France and he made it so beauty and fantastic that to compensate this fact he created the French, and I add, the Parisians are the worst of the french
sounds reasurring but parisians have good taste!Class with a capital K.
what matters most….Roger is loved while Nadal is not so beat it pro Nadals!
Just as there are more bad things happen than good things. Amen.
yes and too bad Soderling happened to Nadal!lol!
Not tragedy. Nadal does not cry like the mighty FED. Oh God this killing me. Baby shit.
oh really it’s not a tragedy?says who?you?????go lick your wounds elsewhere asspicker lover, NO???lol!
Im sure Rafael cried big buckets in private.who wouldnt?when you were trashed mercilessly headfirst into red claycourt dirt?that was really the most pathetic looking ive ever seen of a so called champion being reduced to zit by a NOBODY!
yes…he is the mighty FED and dont you forget that.thanks by the way for acknowledging his righful title =)
…interestingly…Nadal was voted the favorite sportsman of 2008 by the French…I believe the R. Garros crowd is just a fanatical, uneducated bunch of people …otherwise I cannot understand they do not support their 4-time champion…
The crowd is under no obligation whatsoever to cheer for a defending champion. They can cheer and support whomever they want providing that they do no disrespect the other player (booing, hissing, insulting, throwing tomatoes and lettuce, etc). That people assume that Nadal should be a crowd-favorite just because he won there 4 times is mind-boggling to me! Sure, you’d think they’d have a special fondness for the Spaniard but they don’t. It doesn’t make them uneducated though! Non Rafa KADs understand very WELL why the french crowds doesn’t like him, it seems the reasons only evade Rafa KADs! Also crowds, especially the french ones are notariously fickle!
I have french friends on Facebook and most were overjoyed when Nadal lost (displayed in their status update). I asked why all this joy at seeing Nadal lose and they are just tired to see the same boring final every year: Nadal vs Federer.. they wanted someone else to win, preferably a Federer vs Tsonga final.
On the other hand, there’s no doubt the French crowd is rude and disrespectful. Having lived there myself, I would say about 70% of people are ignorant and arrogant, distrustful, untrustworthy, provincial and close minded, selfish, nasty, and proud. There are the few who make up for the others but isn’t it the same in most countries?