Rybakina pulls out
PARIS – Novak Djokovic blasted French Open fans as “disrespectful” after he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a tense third-round clash on Friday.
Djokovic, chasing a third Roland Garros title and men’s record 23rd Grand Slam crown, came through, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, against the 34th-ranked Spaniard to reach the last 16 for a 14th successive year.
During an often fractious afternoon, Djokovic earned the ire of fans when he took a medical timeout for treatment on his left thigh at the end of the second set having been on Court Philippe Chatrier for the best part of three hours.
The 36-year-old Djokovic, a polarizing figure in tennis, gave spectators a sarcastic round of applause and a thumbs-up.
In the third set, he launched a ball skywards in frustration which again brought jeers. Djokovic mocked his tormentors by mimicking their boos and nodding his head in weary acceptance.
“I think the majority of the people come to enjoy tennis or support one or the other player. But there are people who love to boo every single thing you do,” said Djokovic.
“That’s something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don’t understand that. But it’s their right. They paid for the ticket. They can do whatever they want.
“Actually 99 percent of the time I will stay quiet but sometimes I will oppose that because I feel when somebody is disrespectful he or she deserves to have an answer to that.”
Djokovic’s issues with the notoriously hostile Paris crowd came a day after US player Taylor Fritz pressed his finger to his lips to shush fans after knocking out Arthur Rinderknech, the last remaining French player in the draw. Fritz then blew kisses to the crowd.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina pulled out of the French Open before her third-round match on Saturday because she is sick.
“I just wanted to give 100 percent, and obviously I’m far from being 100 percent,” Rybakina said. “If I cannot breathe, there is no chance I can even run and try to compete.”
Women’s third seed Jessica Pegula and men’s seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev were dumped out of the tournament while world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz thrashed Canadian 26th seed Denis Shapovalov.
The Spaniard powered to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Italian Lorenzo Sonego battled back from two sets down to knock out Rublev, 5-7, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, and reach the last 16 for the second time.
Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over former semi-finalist Diego Schwartzman.
Pegula’s hopes were ended in comprehensive fashion by a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Belgian Elise Mertens.