The French Open crowd is difficult to keep satisfied. Ask defending women's champion Maria Sharapova.
USA TODAY Sports reported that Sharapova, the No. 2 seed and No. 3 player in the world, walked off the court after her opening-round victory over Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 at Court Philippe Chartrier to a chorus of boos.
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Sharapova's crime? She skipped out on the courtside, post-match interview.
She is fighting a cold, and USA TODAY Sports reported that her renowned grunting was audibly different than normal - it registered in a lower tone - and she grimaced throughout the match.
The stadium master of ceremonies announced to the crowd that Sharapova's "voice is broken" and would not conduct the post-match interview. She waved to the fans, but still got a negative reaction.
"I totally understand that, you know, everyone usually does post-(match) interview and answers a few questions to the crowd," Sharapova told reporters after the match, according to USA TODAY Sports. "It's absolutely normal. I don't - I'm not making any excuses - but I've got to do what I have to do."
Now she knows what nine-time men's champion Rafael Nadal feels like. Tennis.com reported earlier in the week that Nadal isn't a crowd favorite at Roland Garros, either, despite his 66-1 record at the event.
His earliest nickname was "Ogre" and he never completely won over the French crowd.
"Rafa may be a nine-time champion at Roland Garros, but his earliest nickname in Paris was 'the Ogre,' and the image among tennis fans in France has stuck," Tennis.com's Tennis Tuesday reported. "Even more amazing than Nadal's 66-1 record in Paris is the fact that virtually every match he has played there has been the equivalent of an away game in team sports."
Sharapova is "only" 63-6 in her last 69 matches on clay surfaces, which has made the surface perhaps her best.
"I mean, unless I'm really in my coffin, I'm going to be out there," a soft-spoken Sharapova said, laughing, USA TODAY Sports reported. "But it's just the way it is. I'm getting over it, and hopefully it will pass by soon."
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