“I basically did nothing” – Rune explains spectator incident at Roland-Garros
Dane says spectators like the one he clashed with on Friday have no place in the game
Julien Nouet / Tennis Majors
Holger Rune fought hard to overcome Quentin Halys in the third-round of Roland-Garros in Paris on Friday, but the Frenchman was not the only source of conflict on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the No 10 seed.
Serving to stay in the third set, having dropped his opening set for the second time this week, Rune clashed with a spectator near his towel box between points.
The incident became a big deal as Rune demanded that the perpetrator – who appeared to reach for Rune and verbally interact with him after the Dane threw his towel in his direction – be removed from the stadium.
While courtside microphones did not pick up the exact details of the exchange, the 22-year-old was quick to give his side of the story following his 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory.
“I put my towel down in the box, and the guy was yelling aggressive with me,” he explained. “He reach out for me. I thought this was very strange, because I did not do anything against him and he should not interact with a player on the court. It’s a bit embarrassing, I think.
“I told the supervisor that I would prefer him not being there, because it was a bit uncomfortable. They said they’d check the video, and I guess if it was true what I said they would get him away. I guess they checked, and I didn’t see him for the rest of the match.
“That was good, because it is not a nice feeling when the crowd is getting aggressive with you.”
Rune insists he did not provoke French Open spectator
Opinion is divided on social media over whether Rune is to blame for the incident, with some believing he was looking for a scapegoat given the pressure he was feeling in the match.
Rune, however, remains adamant that he did nothing to spark the clash.
“I basically did nothing,” he said.
“I am allowed to hit the towel into my towel box. I didn’t do anything against him.
“I think maybe he got annoyed that I threw the towel in my towel box. But I can do whatever I want with my towel box as long as I’m keeping respect for everyone, which I believe I did, and the umpire believed so because I didn’t get any warning.
“A guy like that, it should not be about him. We’re here to perform, we’re here to play, and they should try to respect it as much as possible.
“I was actually very happy about the rest of the crowd. I think they were very respectful. Obviously when it’s like 5-4, tense moment, they were supporting him a lot, but it’s normal.
“He actually said, ‘Sorry for the crowd’, after the match when we shook the hand. I said, ‘Don’t worry, I don’t think it was anything crazy’.”
