Roger Federer Yells 'Shut Up' To French Open Crowd During Match Against Juan Martin del Potro (VIDEO)

Don't make Roger Federer angry. You won't like Roger Federer when he's angry. Neither will the guy unlucky enough to be playing against him at the time.

That's apparently what the crowd at Roland Garros did during Federer's quarterfinals match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. The 16-time grand slam champion had just hit one into the net to go down two points in the second set tie break when he vented some frustration on the fans, who made more noise than he would have liked during the rally.

The television replay showed that Federer screamed, "Shut up!" to the crowd.

"That's about as angry as you've ever seen Federer," John McEnroe said.

Fed eventually dropped the second set to go down 6-3, 7-5. But perhaps the outburst stirred something inside Federer that presumably no opponent is going to want to face. He dominated from that point on, winning the next three sets while losing just five games total en route to another victory to reach his record-tying 31st Grand Slam semifinal.

[H/T to Busted Racquet]

PHOTOS FROM FEDERER'S VICTORY

Loading Slideshow

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts as he plays with Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts as he plays with Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts as he plays with Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer serves to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer hits a return to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer hits a return to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro celebrates after a point as he plays against Switzerland's Roger Federer during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro serves to Switzerland's Roger Federer during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer is given balls as he plays against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer sits during a game break as he plays against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Roger Federer of Switzerland returns in his quarter final match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns in his quarter final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina scores a point as he hits the ball with his racket between his legs in his quarter final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Roger Federer of Switzerland returns in his quarter final match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Roger Federer of Switzerland clenches his fist after scoring a point in his quarter final match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro clenches his fist as he plays Switzerland's Roger Federer during their quarterfinal match in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer serves the ball to Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro during their quarterfinal match in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts as he defeats Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro during their quarterfinal match in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his quarter final match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. Federer won in five sets 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates winning his quarter final match against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday June 5, 2012. Federer won in five sets 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

• Federer Comes Back Against Del Potro

  Switzerland's Roger Federer shakes hands after winning reacts over Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their Men's Singles Quaterfinals tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2012 in Paris.

From our partners

• The 50 Worst Sports Movies - Bleacher Report
• 20 Reasons Baseball Is The Worst - Bleacher Report
• Sports Stars Of The '90s: Where Are They Now? - Bleacher Report

Comments

[denisehopes]

08:40 AM on 06/10/2012

This racist sport. It is alright for the little white boy to go off on a tangent, because the crowd got ugly. He doesn't know what crowd noise is, how about getting called ugly racial names from the stands as you are trying to play. This has happened to the Williams sisters many times in this sport, and they have kept their cool. But let one of them become angry for any reason and they are vilified in the media and in the sport. I guess it is alright to be called ugly, racist names while trying to play, but if you are booed while trying to play that is a different thing. Stop making excuses for this scene Federer made, it was rude and nasty, but as I say, it is not what you do, it is really who and what you are.

[mjc]

01:33 PM on 06/09/2012

Any yelling at the French fans was no doubt deserved. Time and time again they are instructed not to yell out, scream, etcetera, but mostly ignored. Federer is the best.

[TomMartin]

12:31 PM on 06/08/2012

I suppose he screamed that in French. They learn French in Switzerland, it is one of the official languages. I wish the article had said that he did scream it in French. The only reason I am not sure is because English is becoming such an international language. I wish I knew how to say shut up in French, but I had only 2 semesters of French.

[jimfromalaska]

10:43 PM on 08/20/2012

Fermez la bouche.

[scorpioleidy]

01:10 PM on 06/07/2012

I love you, Roger, and I'm looking forward to watching you dismantle Djokovich in the semis tomorrow (or is it Saturday? :).

[TomMartin]

12:34 PM on 06/08/2012

Friday. And the name of the Serb is spelled Djoković, not Djokovich. In that language ch would be pronounced tskh.

[lisaman]

02:17 PM on 06/08/2012

Too bad. Straight set win for Nole! Ha ha.

[tkns]

04:12 PM on 06/06/2012

He is just getting past his prime and can't take it.

[Contact1972]

04:26 PM on 06/06/2012

Whish is why he came back and won in five sets? On his worst surface?

[tkns]

05:32 PM on 06/06/2012

He is still a great tennis player and is better than most players in the world of any age. But he is slowly inching past his prime. It happens to the best of us.

[StephenJK]

01:51 PM on 06/06/2012

Rog was just telling his inner voice to shut up. It kept asking "are we there yet" incessantly.

[dufasbohr1]

11:26 AM on 06/06/2012

A crowd cant react now? R Feds, that's just silly...

[Contact1972]

04:27 PM on 06/06/2012

Not yell 'out' during a point-no.

[jagrmeister721]

11:00 PM on 06/06/2012

The French are the worst behaved tennis audience.  They are animals and deserve to be verbally disciplined.

[J0E1]

10:20 AM on 06/06/2012

So many people mistake his lack of personality on the court and calm demeanor during matches (which is not a bad thing!) as "class".  He is calm and composed on the court which makes him one of the best of all time.  However, the real judge of class is after a loss and Roger falls down into Williams sisters territory, always blaming losses on his own play and never giving any credit to the opposing player.  That's not class, not by a long shot.

[Sesame2009]

10:04 PM on 06/06/2012

I really don't understand the tennis world's need for incessant droning on and on about how amazing an opponent is only moments after losing a match.  There is this disingenuous expectation that a person who has just lost a match must bow down in humility to pay immense deference to the victor.   It's one of the many fake niceties of tennis that seem antiquated in a modern world.  (Apologies for net-court winners is another one.)  

No other sport has that expectation.  When Olympians miss that Gold Medal, no one expects them to spend the bulk of their time talking about how amazing their opponent was.  When the World Series is over, the losers don't go over to the other dugout to congratulate their opponents and give them big hugs.  

Despite the stereotype, the Williams sisters and Roger always congratulate their opponents for their victories.  However, they don't drone on and on about it, and I say good enough.  In fact, most players don't drone on and on about their opponents.  Sure there are some who are particularly humble and conciliatory.  Nadal and Lindsay Davenport both come to mind.  But for the most part, Azarenka, Wozniaki, Roddick, Fish, etc... aren't that congratulatory at all.  

Tennis is a generally classy sport. That's one of the things that make it special.  But a handshake at the end of the match and congratulations to your opponent for a match well played should be good enough.  The failure not to do more doesn't make you classless.  It makes you human.  And I'd take that over fake conciliation any day.

[scarlett21]

02:26 PM on 06/07/2012

Perfectly stated, Sesame, thank you!

[Cory111]

09:51 AM on 06/06/2012

You posted: I always loved Johnny Mac.

True he is still a great player but not a good commentator. I think he was vaccinated with a phonograph needle.

I just wish we could watch and listen to the match as if we were in the seats.

We see the ball was obviously out. The lines-person calls the ball out. The umpire calls the new score, we see the reply and the ball was out. Then we hear from the commentators, “The ball was out.”

[jl4141]

04:36 PM on 06/06/2012

J Mac is a great tennis commentator. He's not a line-calling robot like you describe. He has excellent understanding and insight of what's going on in the match and with the players, and he is superb at communicating these insights to his listeners. He may not be your cup of tea, but that and a quarter will get you a phone call.

[Cory111]

06:26 PM on 06/06/2012

It's obvious you are not a tennis player.

http://www.eldoradoranch.com/Resort/Recreation_Desert_Strings_Cory.htm

Cory

[Sesame2009]

10:13 PM on 06/06/2012

Not sure what you're talking about.  

First of all, if you want to watch and listen to a match as if you were in the seats, then why listen to commentators at all.  When you go to the French, there aren't commentators there.  

Secondly, I loathed J Mac as a player, but as a commentator, he's the best.  He doesn't just give the score, or recap the point.  He gives you insight about what it's like to be a PROFESSIONAL player.  I play tennis, and even I can watch a match and say that someone needs to come to net more or run around their forehand.  What I can't do is tell you what a professional player is thinking on the court, and J Mac can do that.  

[Cory111]

11:04 PM on 06/06/2012

Different strokes...

John is an excellent player he just has a big mouth on the court of behind the mic.
What is your USTA rating?

You posted: What I can't do is tell you what a professional player is thinking on the court, and J Mac can do that.

Isn't that the truth and he can sell you everything you don't need to know as a "Tennis Player" and even comments mid-point.
You are just a newsy that finds quiet distracting.
Obama 2012-2016

[Cory111]

09:43 AM on 06/06/2012

I don’t think Roger was talking to a fan. Sharapova was playing over in the next court, he was talking to her.

When you get tickets to one of her matches you automatically get ear plugs.

The Umpire to the crowd, “Quiet please.”

Sharapova serves and dogs three miles away from the court start to bark.

[RJB Boston]

07:06 AM on 06/06/2012

the swiss clock skipped a second

[StephenJK]

06:30 AM on 06/06/2012

Roger has been watching too many "Hitler reacts to..." videos on youtube.

[Cory111]

09:45 AM on 06/06/2012

You could not cut it as a ball boy in a High School tournament.

It seems to know quite a bit about the videos.

Obama 2012-2016

[StephenJK]

12:28 PM on 06/06/2012

Did you comment just to say "Obama 2012-2016"? LOL

[I AM THAT]

03:36 PM on 06/06/2012

NObama! More deficit than the last 3 POTUS's, more drones, NDAA, etc, etc,

ps, no Mitt either!

[sfkjeld]

06:00 AM on 06/06/2012

The last true gentleman tennis champion, Bjorn Borg, once played the Italian #1 Panatta in the Italian Open. The crowd, disapproving of a line call against the Italian, began throwing lire coins onto the court. Borg just stood there in disbelief, watching. They began to play a point and a few more coins dropped onto the court. Borg stopped play and casually walked to the Chair and said, "one more coin, and I leave". That was it, the coin throwing ended. The gravitas of a gentleman champion.

[StephenJK]

06:30 AM on 06/06/2012

I loved that documentary about him and Johnny Mac. Those epic matches between the two. Bjorn made Johnny Mac great and Johnny Mac made Bjorn great(er). I can't imagine the sadness of tennis fans everywhere when Borg quit playing. After watching that, I became a big fan of Borg. I always loved Johnny Mac. But, I watched Johnny Mac after Borg had left the game. I was young anyway.

[sfkjeld]

10:30 AM on 06/06/2012

I was a rabid fan in those days (and before), and saw every televised match they played. But I don't know the documentary you are referring to. Sounds fun. Know the name?

[RJB Boston]

07:07 AM on 06/06/2012

he should have collected the coins - didnt he go bankrupt?

[sfkjeld]

10:28 AM on 06/06/2012

One word will explain why he, or anyone for that matter, wouldn't bother. Lira.

[RobbyCanuck]

02:40 AM on 06/06/2012

Classy guy, obnoxious fans - says it all. Only the French think they know more about everything, yet know nothing about most things.

[IndependentAndProud]

03:35 AM on 06/06/2012

Just curious. How much time have you spent in France?

[ChrisHK]

04:34 AM on 06/06/2012

When most americans cant even point out USA in a map or most believe in creationism...i'm sure the level of education in france is way better...just saying...

[EGGMAN0]

04:44 AM on 06/06/2012

Typical liberals..defending France.

[RJB Boston]

07:08 AM on 06/06/2012

i hate people who exaggerate

[Horace Ovidson]

02:19 AM on 06/06/2012

The fans had to be extremely rude, because Roger is one of the classiest ever to set foot on a tennis court.