Quote of the Day: Paula Badosa says Iga Swiatek "cannot complain" about fans at Roland Garros

A day after world No. 1 Iga Swiatek hit her boiling point with rowdy fans at Roland Garros—who threatened to derail her thrilling second-round battle against Naomi Osaka—players and fans are still heatedly discussing the fall-out.

The two-time defending champ's post-match plea to the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier went viral, along with David Goffin’s harrowing account of being “insulted for three and a half hours” and even having chewing gum spat on him during one contentious first-round match against a French player, causing the tournament to take swift action to curb hooliganism on its grounds.

On Thursday, Roland Garros organizers announced a ban on alcohol in the stands, limiting drinking to around the grounds, and a tightening up of security on site. The most veteran chair umpires will also now be specifically assigned to the matches that are expected to get heated.

Read More: Crowd-sourced mayhem: Has this Roland Garros become the Acting-Out Grand Slam?

But was it all just an overreaction that punishes the masses for the bad behavior of a few rowdy fans? When players were polled on the topic by the press, most seemed to agree that while some hecklers occasionally cross the line, the fans in Paris weren’t acting that much differently from tennis crowds in the rest of the world.

Even Osaka—Swiatek’s opponent on the evening that caused her to speak out—said she “thought the crowd was really cool,” and noted: “I didn't have a problem with the crowd at all. But I'm also used to the New York crowd.”

WATCH: "Totally Disrespectful" David Goffin criticizes French crowd | The Break

Players usually speak about lively crowds in the same way they discuss any of the other on-court conditions, like weather and time of day, that they need to be ready for. This is especially true at notoriously loud tour stops like Roland Garros and the US Open, as Marketa Vondrousova explained.

“I feel like we are used to it. I think the US Open is the same,” said the reigning Wimbledon champion, who plays Frenchwoman Chloe Paquet next. “I feel like you just need to be prepared for it if you're going to play that match.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who himself has had contentious interactions with partisan fans over the years, echoed that sentiment: “When you're playing against a French player like Goffin did or like I did first round, that's where you have to just be aware that you're going to into a big battle. Not just with your opponent.”

Read More: Quote of the Day: Iga Swiatek tells fans “Quiet, s’il vous plaît” at Roland Garros

Djokovic was also quick to point out that, despite his own at-times combative experiences on the game's biggest stages, it’s a completely different beast when a player is facing a hostile public on a smaller court.

“In a sense, that's normal,” Djokovic said, “because they of course do everything to support their own home favorites, their own countrymen and countrywoman to win, particularly if they are underdogs.

“I know that in the outside courts… I saw a little bit of highlights of Goffin's match and they can be even more loud and inappropriate at times.”

Paula Badosa agreed, and even took things a step further after coming off a hard-fought 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory against Yulia Putintseva on Court 8. When asked about Swiatek’s woes on Chatrier, the former world No. 2 recommended that the current world No. 1 try looking at the positives instead.

“I think she cannot complain, because I played Court 8 and 9 and you can hear everything,” said Badosa, whose ranking has slipped to world No. 139 due to injuries. “I played in small courts these days, and I was hearing so much noise…

“I think she's very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier and she's okay with that.”

Q. Do you think it's important that fans remain quiet during points, not make noise except between the points or after a game? Do you find it distracting?…(For example) Iga after that great match against Osaka last night, spoke to the fans…

PAULA BADOSA: I think she cannot complain, because I played Court 8 and 9 and you can hear everything. Like, I can hear Suzanne Lenglen, Philippe Chatrier, Court 6, 7 during the points. I think she's very lucky she can play all the time on Philippe Chatrier and she's okay with that.

But I don't mind. As I said, I played in small courts these days, and I was hearing so much noise. In that moment, I'm just so focused on myself and on my match that it doesn't really bother me.

Honestly, I like when the fans cheer and all this. I think I get pumped.

Look, we had a very tough situation years ago when we were playing without fans with the COVID-19 situation, so now, for me, I'm so happy they're back and I think they're very important for our sport.

In a sea of hot takes, the always-thoughtful Daniil Medvedev emerged as a voice of reason in proposing a middle way.

His recommendation? Umpires and tennis officials should take a decisive stance on hooligan behavior either way, rather than leaving things up to discretion, but should also strive to keep any conduct rules consistent across all tournaments.

The most disruptive thing of all, mused the former world No.1, is having to adjust to different levels of fan involvement. Just take this year's Australian Open, where fans being allowed to move about during games frequently caused frustration for players, and where the tournament's infamous "party court" saw WTA players subjected to catcalling during matches. And at the very next Grand Slam event, a different set of rules and expectations.

“There is no in between,” Medvedev said. “It either should be quiet or super loud but all the time, and then we would get used to it. I would get used to it also, and we would not actually complain about it.”