The crowd play a vital part in sporting events. Commentators and pundits frequently state the importance of a football team playing at home and how it gives that side an advantage. The friendly home crowd is to spur on their players to triumph over the away side. But sometimes a hostile away crowd can be just as inspirational.Yesterday at the French Open, Andy Murray fought back from a set down to overcome Richard Gasquet 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2. With Gasquet being a Frenchman, Murray was facing more than just his opponent at the other side of the net. The hostile French crowd applauded ballistically with every Gasquet point and jeered Murray throughout the encounter. There were boos when he reached to his back injury after losing points, there was calling out when he was preparing to serve, and even cheering when he missed a first serve. Murray however seemed to feed off this atmosphere and used it to propel himself to a superb win. He entered the arena to an intimidating welcome from the French crowd. Murray set his stall out for the match by returning this gesture with a knowing smile. Where others might have gone into their shell, Murray embraced the hostility of the crowd towards him and revelled in playing the pantomime villain. After the match he said, "I started to use the energy from the crowd in a positive way and turned it around and played very well the last few sets.
"I wouldn't say it got too much. It was almost like playing a football match. And I like football. It's the most fun I've had on the court in a while."
Murray demonstrated how important the crowd are in sport. He was able to convert their negativity towards him into a positive outcome for himself.
Gasquet has twice now lost to Murray at the French Open after leading in sets. Perhaps the pressure of expectation from his home crowd is too much for him. Perhaps playing at home isn't such an advantage after all.
