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'Shameful': French Open fan shocks tennis world with 'disgusting' act

Tennis fans have been left shocked by another instance of poor fan behaviour at the French Open.

For the second time in as many weeks at Roland Garros, an adult spectator has snatched a souvenir towel out of the hands of a child.

After Madison Keys’ fourth round victory over Katerina Siniakova on Monday, the American star spotted some kids waiting for a souvenir behind her chair.

The man reached over and snatched the towel. Image: Eurosport
The man reached over and snatched the towel. Image: Eurosport

She tossed them a towel, only for an older male to swoop in and snatch it out of their grasp, running off with the souvenir.

Keys was clearly stunned by the ugly act, holding her hand out as if to say “what are you doing?”

Keys couldn't believe it. Image: Eurosport
Keys couldn't believe it. Image: Eurosport

Luckily for the kids Keys had some spare towels, but the incident left the tennis world fuming.

Unfortunately it’s not the first time it’s happened at this year’s French Open.

Another man was labelled gross and shameless last week after an identical act.

Keys to face Barty

Defending champion Simona Halep continued to tighten her grip on the French Open as she demolished Polish teenager Iga Swiatek to reach the quarter-finals.

The Romanian, who claimed her first Grand Slam title on the Parisian clay a year ago, has taken a while to hit her stride this time and was taken to three sets in the first two rounds.

Since then, however, the 27-year-old has looked in superb form, dropping four games in her last two matches.

"I can't say I feel bad (for my opponent), because I played my best tennis," Halep said after a 6-1 6-0 win that set up a quarter-final against American teenager Amanda Anisimova.

Of the top eight women's seeds, only Halep, No.7 Sloane Stephens and eighth seed Ashleigh Barty, who beat Sofia Kenin 6-3 3-6 6-0 on Monday, have reached the quarter-finals.

Australian Barty will face big-serving Keys, who maintained her consistency in Grand Slams with a 6-2 6-4 defeat of Siniakova.

With Anisimova beating Spain's Aliona Bolsova, three American women have reached the last eight.

"I can't describe how excited I am," Anisimova said of her upcoming clash with Halep. "I couldn't ask for a better match up. I'm just extremely happy and excited for the next round."

with agencies