“There is an audience today! » By sitting at a press conference this Thursday at the end of the afternoon in front of around twenty journalists, David Goffin, eliminated (7-6 [4]6-2, 6-2) in the second round of Roland-Garros by the 4th in the world Alexander Zverev, knew he was expected after his declarations on Tuesday after his epic success over the Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 [4]6-3).
The 33-year-old Belgian deplored the atmosphere on court 14 and notably declared: “Some are there more to make a mess than to set the mood. Today someone spat their gum at me. Lots of people are complaining. This is the echo in the locker room and in the ATP authorities. » Questioned this Thursday, he welcomed the decision of tournament director Amélie Mauresmo to ban alcohol in the stands of the various courts: “I just said what I thought, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I don’t know if they were drinking alcohol during the match in the stands or in the stadium. But it’s something great, it’s good that Amélie decided that. »
“When there start to be clans of supporters who go further and further, it’s always an escalation”
“ After my match and especially after my press conference two days ago, I don’t know how many people came to see me and were on my side. Players, coaches… I didn’t think it was going to take such proportions and cause so much buzz, to the point of taking measures in the tournament like Amélie Mauresmo has just done, he added. Maybe we have to be careful because when there start to be clans of supporters who go further and further, it’s always an escalation, we say to ourselves: next year, we’ll do something else again. »
