Muguruza slams crowd as defence ends in tears

A tearful Garbine Muguruza hit out at the French Open crowd after her title defence ended with defeat by Kristina Mladenovic.

Muguruza, who defeated Serena Williams in last year’s final, walked off court wagging her finger at the fans on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Mladenovic is the great French hope to end their 17-year wait for a home singles champion, and the support was understandably one-sided as they cheered the 24-year-old to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory.

But Muguruza felt it went too far, saying: “I think the audience was really tough today. I can’t really understand. I don’t know how to explain. If you had been in my shoes on the court, I think youwouldhaveunderstood.”

The 23-year-old broke down in tears during her press conference and had to leave the room for a couple of minutes before returning.

It appeared there was no love lost between the players either, with Muguruza asked about Mladenovic’s habit of shouting ‘forza’ in Italian at key moments.

“I think she speaks like 25

0 Garbine Muguruza: Exit. languages, I heard,” responded Muguruza sarcastically.

Muguruza was joined by Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sam Stosur in exiting the tournament, meaning the women’s event will have a new grand slam champion.

Williams, who had been hoping to win the tournament for the first time in the month of her 37th birthday, lost 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 to Timea Bacsinszky. It was the second year in a row the Swiss had beaten Williams in the fourth round.

Caroline Wozniacki, with two slam finals now the most experienced player left, continued her fine year with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over 2009 winner Kuznetsova.

Wozniacki next faces teenage Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, who knocked out Stosur 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to reach her first quarter-final.