YANNICK NOAH: WAWRINKA NEEDS CROWD CONNECTION

French David and Fed Cup team skipper Yannick Noah has asked that players connect to the crowd more in games. He fingered Swiss star Stan Wawrinka as a player that should develop in this regard.

Wawrinka won the 2015 Roland Garros but he faces a tougher task this year with the form of RafaNadal, NovalDjokovic’s clay dominance, Roger Federer’s comeback and Andy Murray’s consistency.

“He should relax a little bit. When he won a few years ago he had some bad shorts like if he had to go on the beach. It only missed the mouthpiece and it would have been great! No really, it wasn’t so great. Stan needs to make an effort and get closer to the crowd. Do something man,” the 1983 Roland Garros winner advised.

Wawrinka reached the last four in Brisbane and Australia. He reached the fourth round in Miami, Monte Carlo and the Indian Wells. His compatriot Federer sent him packing in Australia and in the Indian wells, going on to grab both titles.

The Monte Carlo defending champ lost to Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 6-4 to post a surprising result just before the French Open. Well, only Dominic Thiem and RafaNadal matched expectations as Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray were also knocked out.

Djokovic after the game said: “I’m disappointed to lose from the position that I was. I haven’t lost many matches like that in my career.”

Tennis this year has been exciting with news of comebacks, babies, scandals, upsets and what-have-yous. Roland Garros is another one that promises something up its sleeves.