French Open bans booze to stop rowdy fans as David Goffin backs the move after accusing fans off SPITTING at him as he claims the Paris event has 'changed a lot' in recent years

The French Open has become the first Grand Slam to ban fans from drinking alcohol on court, in a bid to crack down on raucous behaviour.

David Goffin claimed a spectator spat chewing gum at him during his first-round win over French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and said: ‘It’s becoming like a football match. It’s total disrespect. It only happens in France.’

World No 1 Iga Swiatek also complained about the crowds this week.

And on Thursday, Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo responded by banning fans from bringing alcohol on to the court, as one of a number of measures aimed at curbing boorish behaviour.

‘We saw, particularly during the match between Goffin and Mpetshi Perricard, that people clearly exceeded the limit,’ said the former world No 1.

‘So a few things have been put in place: first, umpires are going to be even more strict.

‘If there is even the slightest behaviour that crosses the line, they (fans) will be out.

‘Alcohol was allowed until now in the stands – that’s over.’

On Goffin’s assertion that he had been spat at, Mauresmo said: ‘We are on it, for now we haven’t found them.’

World No1 Novak Djokovic was asked about the issue on Thursday, and applauded Goffin for standing up to the hecklers.

‘Look, they are very passionate fans,’ he said. ‘At times they are not easy.

‘I saw highlights of Goffin's match and they can be even more loud and inappropriate at times.

‘I want to see fans cheering and I want to see that atmosphere but it's a fine line and when that line is passed and it starts becoming disrespectful, in those instances I understand that a player reacted like Goffin the other day, because I have experienced quite a few times those situations.

‘So I support a player standing up against people who are disrespecting and heckling him. It's not always possible to tolerate. At times you just have to face somebody that is heckling you.’

Goffin played his second-round match on Thursday, losing to No 4 seed Alexander Zverev, and was asked about the fallout from his remarks.

‘I was surprised to see a lot of people supporting me, so many players and coaches,’ said the Belgian.

‘I didn't know people would give so much importance to this, that it would become a buzz and now they've even taken measures.

‘Hopefully it's good what Amelie did because if (fans) continue like that, you never know. Maybe they go for it for more next year and then the year after even for more. You never know what they're going to - if they're going to come with firecrackers.’

Mauresmo suggested a deterioration in supporter behaviour post-Covid, saying fans returned ‘thirsty for emotion’. Goffin agreed things were getting worse: ‘The last few years it changed a lot. Different kind of support here in Paris. More excitement, more aggressive.’

Despite Goffin’s assertion that the locker room is behind him, players are by no means united on the issue.

Italian Matteo Arnaldi has played and beaten two French players so far and he said: ‘For me it’s normal: I play in Italy, I have my crowd. I play in France against a French player, I have the crowd against me.’

And Paula Badosa had little sympathy with Swiatek’s objections to spectators shouting in the middle of the point. 

‘I think she cannot complain, because I played on Court 8 and you can hear everything,’ said the Spaniard. ‘I can hear (noise from) Suzanne Lenglen, Philippe Chatrier, Court 6, 7 during the points. I think she's very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier.’