PARIS – Holga Rune asked the audience to be removed at the French Open on Friday, claiming the man actively yelled at him after Rune showed frustration by slamming the towel into the towel box.
Rune played Frenchman Quentin Harris at the court in Philippe Chatelier when the incident occurred near the end of the third set of Dane’s 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-2 third round victory.
Rune, the No. 10 seed, said he took an exception to the way he threw the towel.
“The man was screaming aggressively with me, he reached out for me,” he said. “I did nothing against him and I thought this was very strange because he shouldn’t interact with players on the court, which is a bit embarrassing.
“I told the supervisor I wanted him not to be there because it was a bit offensive. They said they would check the video. If that’s true that I said I’d drive him away, I think they checked and I didn’t see him in the rest of the game.”
Rune felt he was being criticized.
“You’re allowed to put the towel on the towel box. You didn’t do anything to him. I think you were frustrated by throwing the towel into the towel box.
Roland Garos has gained a reputation in recent years for his violent and sometimes unstable behavior.
American players Taylor Fritz and Belgian David Goffin have been pissed off by the actions of home fans over the past two years.
Rune was only upset this time with one fan.
“I was actually very pleased with the rest of the crowd,” he said. “They were very respectful.”
He plays Italian eighth seed Lorenzomsetti in the fourth round.