Aussie fan booted from US Open match in fiery scenes as Frenchman erupts and crowd sing their farewells
Updated . First published at
A Jordan Thompson fan was ejected from Court 7 at the US Open on Monday (AEST) after raising the ire of his opponent Corentin Moutet.
The first round match between two fiery players was always likely to produce some tension and so it proved as Aussie Thompson prevailed 6-2, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
The supporter, wearing what appeared to be an Australian football shirt, got under the skin of Frenchman Moutet at the end of the first set in New York.
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Corentin Moutet of France compains about the crowd. Getty
Umpire James Keothavong stepped in.
"Buddy, please don't talk to the players please," Keothavong said.
"If you want to support, that's fine, but not directly at the player."
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A fired up Corentin Moutet approaches the fan. Stan
Things cooled down for a while before Moutet held serve for 3-2 in the second set.
The world No.40 exploded with emotion, approaching the man in gold and yelling and pointing at him.
The supporter pointed back at the scoreboard before Moutet engaged Keothavong in conversation.
Corentin Moutet points angrily at the fan, who points at the scoreboard. Stan
Keothavong then decided enough was enough and asked the Thompson fan to leave.
The man eventually did - after a few protests - and most of the nearby spectators were happy to see the back of him.
"Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye," came the cries.
The crowd wave the Aussie fan goodbye. Stan
With that issue sorted, Moutet came back into the contest with a dominant third set win.
But Thompson, the world No.58, composed himself to close the match out in the fourth set and advance to a meeting with another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino.
"I quite like his (Moutet's) style of tennis," Thompson told Stan Sport's Duncan McKenzie-McHarg.
Jordan Thompson speaks to Stan Sport. Stan
"A lot of people have problems with him. I'm not one of them. I get along quite well with him. As long as he doesn't affect me, I really don't care what he does.
"It's a good tennis match when he's doing that kind of stuff. The crowd gets involved.
"He's got trick shots so, as long as I'm taking care of business, I'm happy to be out there... to be honest, I was ready for all of it.
Jordan Thompson of Australia reacts against Corentin Moutet of France. Getty
"That's what makes him him, and that's what makes him great on the court. So I've just got to focus on myself.
"I've got to have a chuckle sometimes when he's getting people thrown out of the crowd. I'm sure they're Australian, but, yeah, it's just who he is."
Fellow Aussies Destanee Aiava and Rinky Hijikata both lost their first round matches in straight sets.
Qualifier Aiava was outclassed 6-2, 7-6 by seventh seed Jasmine Paolini while Hijikata was walloped 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 by 32nd seed Luciano Darderi.
Hijikata has been recovering from a torn abdominal muscle.
"Pretty horrific today," he said.
"Luciano played well. I didn't really do anything to disrupt or make him uncomfortable.
"It's tough coming straight back in first match pretty much since 'Wimby'.
"Just starting here is not easy. Obviously against a quality opponent too, it's not like you ease your way into the match against him. He's hitting the ball massive from the back and serving big."
