French fans show lack of class at French Open

self | 6/5/03 | skyleader

[Skyleader]

The French fans again displayed their lack of class by booing Serena Williams as she left the court after a hard-fought 3 set loss to Justine Hennine.

During the critical third set fans cheered for Justine while the ball was still in play. The EU/Chirac inspired crowd also jeered at every opportunity against the American.

[Types_with_Fist]

You mean to say, "many average French citizens were present."

[Nathaniel Fischer]

Still, I'm glad that Serena finally lost a match.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Well, personally, I don't have much love for Serena either. She has a tendency to play the race card just a tad overmuch.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I don't guess this will happen, but it would be cool if the Williams sisters decided not to play the French next year. Since the French comes after the Australian, and since winning a grand slam is such a big deal, they could wait to see what happens with the Australian and then only play the French if they had a shot at the slam. F the French!

[Billthedrill]

Her dad won't fly the American flag - "symbolizes racism." Strange how this hasn't seemed to endear the ladies to the French audience...

[Mears]

I didn't know that her father thought the American flag symbolized racism-----why doesn't he move to France,and stay there.

[mr.pink]

"Lack of class" (rudeness, vulgarity, and unsportsmanship) at tennis events, by both players and fans, was another embarassing American export.

[kim r.]

good idea.
after the way that french crowd behaved, i wouldn't want to return either. serena is no tantrum-throwing martina hingis. she didn't deserve such rudeness.

[Alberta's Child]

Serena must really be losing it, if she lost a match like this, since she belongs in the men's bracket after all.

[D1X1E]

He believes the American flag symbolizes racism? Then I am sure he believes the same of the Confederate battle flag as that belief is a requirement to be considered a "real" black person. Poor guy, he really is a man without a country isnt he? Mr Williams, France is calling.

[Kakaze]

YAWN!

I could care less that the great unwashed booed another unpatriotic family, just goes to show, even if you denounce america ( yet still capitalise on its freedoms) the french aren't your friends. Let them eat cake.

[PetroniDE]

If Anna ain't playing, I ain't watching.... A tennis thread and no Anna pictures, shame on you.

[Blueflag]

Perhaps you should point out the booing ensued after a vigorous line call discussion ...

I think Serena was right, and so did the commentators.

The crowd rallied against her after that.

[Tunehead54]

"Lack of class" (rudeness, vulgarity, and unsportsmanship) at tennis events, by both players and fans, was another embarassing American export.

---

A Jimmy Connors slap? ;-)

I must say the french just keep kicking themselves in the butt. Their economy is tanking due to the boycott and their socialist policies. Ahh! Life is good. ;-)

[Smedley]

Your wish, my command.

[mr.pink]

A Jimmy Connors slap? ;-)

And Johnny Mac, and the significant lout factor at the US Open. ;o)

[Prodigal Son]

Hmmm. Anna doesn't have any hips.

[RonF]

I though Ile Nastase started all that.

[caisson71]

Who's Serena? What opened in France?

[theFIRMbss]

>The French fans again displayed their lack of class

That's total nonsense!
When Lleyton Hewitt questioned
calls late in his match,

the fans turned on him.
And when Tommy Robredo
started questioning

calls late in his match
against Costa, the crowd turned
against Robredo.

It isn't a lack
of class. It's just that the fans
don't like cry babies...

(And they boo-ed Williams
extra-loud because at first
she didn't shake hands

with the chair umpire,
and she almost didn't shake
with Justine Henin.)

[nothingnew]

Are you some kind of 3-line poet? Just curious.

FMCDH

[theFIRMbss]

>I think Serena was right, and so did the commentators.

Yes, and those very
same commentators made fun
of Robredo and

Hewitt when those guys
questions calls late in matches.
These commenators

were the worst ever.
(The low point, for me, was when
first Mary C. said

Hantuchova's look
was "heroin-chic," and then --
just two days later --

Maryjo and Pam
spent five minutes laughing at
Magui Serna, and

calling her names like
"dough girl." This ESPN
coverage was more than

just bad TV -- It
achieved a transcendent kind
of disgusting stench...)

[the_devils_advocate_666]

My preference, Amanda Coetzer... That's a whole lot of 5'2"

[Tunehead54]

And Johnny Mac, and the significant lout factor at the US Open. ;o)

---

Ooh right! MacEnroe really shines in the tantrum department!

[Guillermo]

Her, or her dad?

[mr.pink]

IMHO, He was such a great player he didn't need to pull all that crap.

[N. Theknow]

I didn't know that her father thought the American flag symbolized racism-----why doesn't he move to France,and stay there.

Are you kidding? Pay French taxes?

His disdain can only go so far and then it's real money we're talking about.

Besides, if he did that who would listen to him and give him a soapbox for bad-mouthing the US. The blame first media wouldn't give him the time of day anymore.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Okay, it could be her dad from which my dislike stems.

[amused]

Yes, for all the heming and hawing about the Ugly American and freedom fries, the French prove they're human....and hypocrits.

[Guillermo]

Their dad is a first class *%^$#!

But one can't help who their parents are. I haven't seen/heard anything from them directly that would indicate they are the same way.

[sheik yerbouty]

They lacked deodorant as well.

[PetroniDE]

Thank you...

[PetroniDE]

Thank You....

[Tribune7]

If he's a Jehova Witness as I understand, they don't believe in flying any flags.

[TontoKowalski]

(And they boo-ed Williams extra-loud because at first she didn't shake hands

with the chair umpire, and she almost didn't shake with Justine Henin.)

I didn't see the match or it's aftermath, but Serena has something of a reputation as a poor loser. At the French Open several years ago, she had a similar dispute and reaction to a loss of Mary Joe Fernandez... who was pretty much universally acknowledged as one of the nicest women on the tour.

Back in the early days of their pro careers, I didn't think much of either of the Williams sisters because of their immaturity. I forgave them for it because they were so young. They're of an age and level of experience now that they need to start acting a little better. She may have been disappointed with a questionable call, but that's not Justin Henen's fault, and a little graciousness never hurt anybody in a sport where the majority of income comes from product endorsements, and not on the court.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

The EU/Chirac inspired crowd also jeered at every opportunity against the American.

Turnabout is fair play?

With all the anti-French sentiment directed at them, I'm not surprised that they're jeering at the American.

[Churchillspirit]

For sheer class no-one tops Chris Evert and Pete Sampras.

[Churchillspirit]

For sheer class no-one tops Chris Evert and Pete Sampras.

[Tunehead54]

IMHO, He was such a great player he didn't need to pull all that crap.

---

You're right. Prolly his agent - "You need to be a bad boy ..."

[meandog]

According to Earl Williams, their dad, the only reason that she or sister, Venus, ever lose is because they are black and the tennis umpire and linesmen are racist!

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Yowch! I may be typecasting the daughters for the sins of their father. Howsoever, only will time tell if the daughters have more class than the father.

[freebacon]

Who cares about whats going on with the French? They're the only people on earth whose defining characteristic is a overbearing contemptuous elitism; while dwelling in a perpetual state of mediocrity. Their attitude has become so severe, and their jealousy so sharp it is to the point of a national psychosis. Their lack of civility is no surprise.