Toni Nadal lambasted the Parisian crown at Roland Garros during an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
The uncle + coach of top baller Rafael Nadal was none too pleased to hear how little the Parisian crowd was supporting the 4-time defending champion:
In an interview with the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Toni Nadal said there was some truth to the phrase: "There is only one set of supporters that is worse than the French and that is the Parisians."
"They say it themselves and it's true, the Parisian crowd is pretty stupid. I think the French don't like it when a Spaniard wins," he added. "Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior."
Rafa had made mention of the crowd's waning support in his post-match presser after the loss saying,
Maybe at one stage they supported Soderling more than me, and that was a bit sad.But I wish when I'm back they can support me a bit more in key moments.
Boy, Uncle Toni just ripped them a new one - a deservedly so. I understand getting excited for the underdog but you can also support the 4-time defending champ.
It's not a one way street people...it's about appreciating great tennis.
(image via google)
I'm not saying he doesn't have something of a point but would he be complaining if the crowd had been behind Rafa and against the Sod? I think not. You've got to take the rough with the smooth, some days everyone loves you, others they wish you'd never been born.
ReplyDeletegototennis had an interesting blog on this:
French Open Nadal victim to famous French Syndrome
Stupid Uncle Toni...of course the crowd will support the unfavorite!!
ReplyDeleteSoderking!!!!!
the crowd just sucks period. It's the only crowd, for a grandslam, that cheers when someone hits the ball out or double faults, etc. The have poorest crowd etiquette and act like a group of 10 year olds. It's seriously one of the reasons why the French open is my least favorite slam. I understand about rooting for the underdog, but there is a point where it effects the other player. Ask serena Williams. The crowd just " loves" her. LOL
ReplyDeleteThe french crowd sucks.
ReplyDeleteI think Rafa handled this much better than Toni. Unfortunately, Toni insulted the crowd so I doubt they'll be rooting for Rafa in the future. I see this as a comments he made in the heat of the moment after a tough loss. He should have kept his mouth shut and taken a cue from Rafa because the French crowd don't respond kindly to insults.
ReplyDeleteWhy complain about something you can't control? I mean you can definitely not let it get to you and still win even if the crowd is against you. I don't see players beaten by nadal all these years at the FO complaining the about the crowd not being behind them, do I? Nadal is a 6 time grand slam champion, he should be able to deal with a lack of crowd support. So Uncle Toni just sounds lame to me here.
ReplyDeleteOh, snap.
ReplyDeleteThe Paris crowd didn't treat Rafa terribly well last fall in Bercy, either, remember, everyone? When he retired after his injury?
I used to think it was generally because they liked Roger better (French is the one romance language Rafa doesn't speak -- well, other than Romanian, I guess -- and Roger is of course fluent).
I think Uncle Tony is partially right about it being a France-Spain thing, and that GTT article has some fascinating insights. Thanks for that, Rich.
m: Rafa speaks Portuguese and Italian? Why have I never been shown footage?
ReplyDeleteSore loser Uncle Toni.
ReplyDeleteIs it true then that the French don't like the fact that Rafa wins his matches...it was sad though, u could tell they weren't behind him after...though its no big deal now, but Toni Nadal has a point of course Soderling would get a lot of support for what he was doing. But they were pretty rude about changing sides 'to cheer on'.
ReplyDelete@ Jonus, I agree Rafa deserves more respect for what he has done there the past 4 years, and the French/ Parisian crowd didn't seem to care less.
as French Rafa fans we are so ashamed of what hapened last sunday! You cannot start to understand the deep hurt we felt had been inflicted on our Campeon!
ReplyDeleteThe crowd were pretty disrespectful to a lot of players... I agree with Toni, he definitely has a point, but saying it publicly won't help - it'll just make them even more annoyed.
ReplyDeleteLike Jonus said, they really shouldn't cheer at double faults, etc. But there's not much we can do about it *shrugs*
I'm way too cranky to answer this properly, and it's my birthday so I shouldn't be so angsty, but urgh, I knew this would come back as Toni and team being sore losers. It's so much more than that. It's about respecting the players, ALL of them, and not cheering double faults, not booing the champion, etc. Home court has its advantages as we all know at slams, but it can be used for good, not disrespect. I'm so extra disgusted with RG this year.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate thing about Toni speaking out, is next year they'll boo him twice as hard. :/ I wish more people would speak up about it. Not like it would change a thing...
The french are the most ignorant tennis crowds in the world and racist to boot. They don't care about watching great tennis they want to get themselves involved in matches by disrupting them and making visitors feel unwelcome. Why they are allowed to host a grand slam is beyond me, they should move the clay slam to Spain or some other country that knows how to behave in a civilized manner and appreciate great tennis no matter who the player is.
ReplyDeleteAnon 5:14, where did you get racism in all of this? I don't think the French are ignorant and the players agree.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hk97_tennis-channel-players-discuss-fren_sport
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hkeh_tennis-channel-legacy-of-roland-gar_sport
I think we should all just let it go. Some French crowds can be mean. Period. I watch other sports and I can tell you that some French crowds boo their own teams and players so Toni really shouldn't take it so personally especially going as far as saying that the French are anti-Spanish. Also we shouldn't generalize the French. Rafa didn't get booed by France, he got booed by the people who were in the stadium that day, some of whom weren't even French. Plus, as Anon 4:46 wrote, there are French Rafa fans who support and fervently cheer for him.
@anonymous 5:14 you obviously missed the time Federer was playing Agassi in the US Open and the crowd cheered every single one of his errors. I don't think the French crowd is any worse than any other crowd in the world that takes against a player.
ReplyDeleteMaking sweeping statements like this isn't going to endear Toni Nadal to the french crowds and will probably make things worse next year.
There is no law in the world that says a crowd must support both players equally. Sometimes a crowd will love, sometimes they'll hate you. Players have to deal with it. They shouldn't have to but I can't think of a way of stopping it without having the players playing in empty stadiums.
I agree with Uncle Toni. The French crowd sucks. I'm not a Nadal fan, but they've never been kind to him for some reason. And I hate the way they treated Safin. I understand that they were rooting for theit countrymen, but they treated a man they used to adore like trash. And then they root for Sharapova, who insulted them last years. It just doesn't make any sense. Sorry, end of rant :)
ReplyDeleteI can understand Uncle Toni is pissed. Turning against a player totally sucks and has nothing to do with appreciating sports.
ReplyDeleteIt's true though, you can't generalize this. People who applaud double faults or UE's or boo someone's winners are just plain morons. They don't know squat about tennis and its etiquette. And you have those kinda idiots in all countries I guess.
It's true though, unfortunately not much you can do.
Huh? One "it's true though" too much. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate the French crowd. They are horrible. They act like they don't even like tennis they just want someplace to go where they can act like hateful snobs. Having said that there's no point in Uncle Toni complaing about waning support. I love Rafa but even I want to see someone else win.
ReplyDelete-Lisa
Oh yeah this reminds me of a youtube video about the rudeness of the French crowd. A MUST SEE!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqLr00Krd0k
-Lisa
Remember the time the french pigs booed Rafa for ten minutes years ago at Roland Garros? TEN MINUTES. Over nothing! Just that their boy Grojsean was losing. You'd never see that kind of disgusting behavior anywhere else. The French are revolting.
ReplyDeleteuncle Toni is right. Paririans are not a friendly crowd.
ReplyDeleteuncle Toni is right. Paririans are not a friendly crowd.
ReplyDeletegood luck then for next year as hostile parisians will be out to get you!lol!sour grapes~
ReplyDeleteon the contrary, Parisian crowd already chose who they want and thats not Rafa so deal with it!
ReplyDeletei love the French crowd because they know how to root for the underdogs!
ReplyDeleteThe french crowd is not better nor worse than any other crowd and we must stop those generalities. May be the Parisians crowd has been in Rafa's face by cheering for the underdog at a time he feels he needed them the most.
ReplyDeleteThe French are the Francks, a german tribe, and I wonder where the common expression 'to be franck' comes from...
Also I remember a few years ago the Australian Davis cup team came back from playing their final in Spain in UTTER DISGUST from their treatment there. The Spanish crowd spent its time booing, sneering, whistling, bullying , calling during all ties ; ask Hewitt, John Newcoombe, the captain at the time.
Rafa was part of that time and when asked abt it, HE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CROWD. So what is the problem today? Usually life teaches you a lesson when you expect it the least that is WHERE and WHEN it will hurt the most.