On Twitter, Sports Minister Laura Flessel called what Hamou did to Eurosport TV's Maly Thomas an "assault." Cecile Duflot, a member of parliament, tweeted : "He kisses her by force, she tries to get away, he holds her by the neck and everyone... laughs #tired."
Flessel and Duflot also criticized 1988 French Open runner-up Henri Leconte and other in-studio guests who laughed at and applauded Hamou's on-air actions.
"A live assault is not funny," Flessel wrote. "We should never let this happen, and never trivialize such acts."
Hamou, who is ranked 287th, posted a statement on Instagram on Tuesday in which he apologized to Thomas "if she feels hurt or shocked by my attitude during her interview."
He wrote, in French, that he let his "excess of enthusiasm express itself awkwardly toward Maly, who I know and sincerely respect."
Hamou added that he would offer an apology in-person if Thomas wants one.
Eurosport said in a statement that it regretted what had happened.
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