The French Open has made a bold move to curb unruly behavior by banning alcohol consumption in the stands, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo announced. This decision comes after an incident where Belgium’s David Goffin had chewing gum spat at him during a match against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Fans have previously been allowed to drink alcohol in the stands, but Mauresmo emphasized the need to maintain respect for the players and the game. Chair umpires will now be stricter in enforcing this respect, and security measures have been increased to identify and warn offenders.
Mauresmo stated, “Overstepping these two things is not something we will tolerate. If people want to show emotion, that’s great, but we will not hesitate to take more measures if necessary.”
In addition to the alcohol ban, the start of play at Roland Garros has been moved up to 10 am to make up for lost time due to rain delays. Only nine players had advanced to the third round by the start of play on Thursday, with more rain forecasted, making it unlikely that all 128 singles second-round matches will be completed as scheduled.
The French Open is taking a proactive approach to ensure a safe and respectful environment for players and fans alike, setting a precedent for other tournaments to follow suit.