2 Jun 2009

Nadal's coach labels French Open crowd "stupid"

11:28 am on 2 June 2009

Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal has called Roland Garros spectators stupid for their treatment of his nephew during his shock French Open loss to Robin Soderling.

The world number one was booed by the French crowd when he retired injured from the Paris Masters at Bercy last year and found scant support among the Roland Garros spectators on Monday during his failed bid for a fifth consecutive title.

Toni Nadal says there was some truth to the phrase "There is only one set of supporters that is worse than the French and that is the Parisians".

Rafael Nadal says after his loss to Soderling it appeared the crowd had been supporting the Swede rather than him at one point, which he called sad.