Patrick Mouratoglou has slammed the spectators who have been booing World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at this year's French Open.
Mouratoglou is one of the people who have expressed their public disapproval over the crowd's behavior in Paris and how they have been conducting themselves in matches involving defending champion Djokovic.
And strangely enough, it's not just one time. Djokovic was booed over his loud celebration after his first-round opponent Yoshihito Nishioka missed his shot. Then secondly, he received mixed reception of jeers and boos while entering the court to play Diego Schwartzman in the fourth round.
Tennis pundits Alex Corretja and Alize Lim vehemently condemned this behavior before the match while working on Eurosport. Moreover, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was also booed after playing a wonderful drop shot winner and cupped his ear afterward as if to berate the fans.
However, the 35-year-old is not the only tennis player who was booed in Paris this year. Alexander Zverev and home player Alize Cornet also experienced this disrespectful gesture by the fans. Speaking about the booing and whistling of Djokovic, French coach Patrick Mouratoglou said it made no sense.
"It makes no sense to whistle Djokovic. If you don’t like it, you have the right not to come. But when we come to watch the game, we have to appreciate these exceptional athletes, the spectacle they give us and encourage them. It’s the minimum."
Djokovic has been unaffected by the reaction from fans because his performances have been getting better. And he has scaled all four rounds to reach the quarterfinal of the tournament.
He will face the ultimate challenge of them all on Tuesday against fellow rival Rafael Nadal in a rematch of last year's semifinal. Djokovic won last year's bout en route to the title, handing the Spaniard just his third-ever defeat at Roland Garros.
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