'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.
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?”
Luckily for the kids Keys had some spare towels, but the incident left the tennis world fuming.
We had some words after this 🙄🙄 and luckily I saw it and rectified the situation. People man 😒
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) June 3, 2019
This is not right - @Madison_Keys giving her towel to a kid in the front row only to have it stolen. Second time at Roland Garros we've seen this. (TSN) pic.twitter.com/LjAYxnuhgM
— Michael Gallo (@Galloots) June 3, 2019
This guy is a monster
— Graeme Cox (@rgraemecox) June 3, 2019
That’s upsetting for Maddie and the young boy - shame on the man. Glad Maddie tried to say something - the only way to get it to who you want to have it is not to throw it, the adults will always muscle in on the kids.
— Elisa Hatherley (@HatherleyElisa) June 3, 2019
That’s creepy
— Scott Thomas (@7Scott77) June 3, 2019
no place for this in tennis...or any sport. Shameful..
— Michael Gallo (@Galloots) June 3, 2019
Awful!
— Fraser Masefield (@fmasefield) June 3, 2019
That "GIMME GIMME GIMME" that happens as soon as a player gets back to chair after a win is just the saddest part of fandom.
I do hope, in this case, the older dude on the left didn't manage to make off with @Madison_Keys 's towel at the expense of the youngsters. Probz did tho pic.twitter.com/hIjKx3ERBM— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) June 3, 2019
terrible ! Discusting old man. shame on him for been such a jerk. For the young kid a life lesson. there are a lot of old bad people loss. Fight for your towel next time or make him pay. kick his ass.😠
— Marcelo Diaz Rizzi (@DiazRizzi) June 3, 2019
ANIMAL!!!!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬RT @Galloots: This is not right - @Madison_Keys giving her towel to a kid in the front row only to have it stolen. Second time at Roland Garros we've seen this. (TSN) pic.twitter.com/zxsVS3b39X
— Ble (@bleizon) June 3, 2019
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.
😡Who is this????? (info - @TheTennis3601 )( 🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/RsQK4sbZio
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) May 26, 2019
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
