Taylor Fritz defeated Arthur Rinderknech at Roland Garros, ending French hopes and displacing the cheering crowd

On Thursday at Roland Garros, Taylor Fritz eliminated the last French player and mockingly reprimanded the rowdy, hostile audience.

After defeating Arthur Rinderknech 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, the eighth-ranked American in the world raised his finger to his lips in victory as the majority of the audience booed and jeered.

“The audience was just so amazing that I had to let it to energize me. I wanted to win because they supported me with such fervor. The American responded sarcastically in his on-court interview as the jeers persisted, “Thanks guys.

The 25-year-old had become impatient with the crowd during the game as they sung the French anthem in an effort to advance their last remaining hope to the next round.

The chair umpire begged everybody to be quiet during the rallies, but they ignored him.

In response to Fritz’s dramatic and obscene bow to his tormentors at the conclusion of the match, Rinderknech drew a heart in the clay on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

That momentary thaw in the weather won’t be able to mask the unpalatable reality for French tennis, however.

None of the 28 domestic competitors who entered the competition on Sunday managed to go beyond the second round.

The only other occasion the host country has experienced such a humiliating annihilation was in 2021.

Rinderknech, who is now placed 78th, claimed he was aware of his nation’s appalling performance this week because “I had heard about it at least 200 times in the crowd.”

“I gave it my all.”

At the French Open, Fritz has already matched his best-ever performance.

He will compete against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina to go to the fourth round.