The French Open had almost as much action off the court as on it, with complaints, controversies and conflicts almost every day. Here's a look at some of the tense moments:
1. Federer's security statement
Roger Federer wasn't smiling for the camera when a fan ran onto the court to get a photo following the No. 2's first-round match at the tournament. Federer, who was also interrupted by someone running on court during the 2009 final, said it had happened during practice the previous day as well, calling for security to be more alert.
"I think I can speak on behalf of all the players, that's where you do your job; that's where you want to feel safe," Federer said. "It's not just standing there on the courts looking nice in a tie and suit."
The tournament said it had been a lapse rather than a lack of security, but officials got the message, judging by the 14 or so guards who surrounded Federer as he walked to his next match. There were no more such breaches thereafter. "That's all I wanted," said Federer, adding that he did not want fan access more restricted.
2. Serena's staggering semifinal
Serena Williams made a habit of falling behind and coming back at the French Open, going three sets in all but two matches during the tournament. But none was as dramatic as the semifinals, when Williams called for ice towels. She staggered throughout the match and went down a set and a break before winning 10 straight games against Timea Bacsinszky. The No. 1, who couldn't contain her coughing during her on-court interview, said she had had a fever for a few days.
Though Switzerland's newest name said she did not see it as gamesmanship, there was widespread sentiment that it could have been.
3. Azarenka's replay ruckus
The use of ball marks on clay and Hawk-Eye on other surfaces has reduced arguments of bad calls, but whether a point should be replayed has become one of the most contentious topics among players and umpires.
The most prominent example during the French Open came during the second set of the match between Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams, when Azarenka was convinced her backhand had caught the line. Azarenka asked the umpire to check the mark, and though she succeeded in getting the call reversed, the umpire insisted on replaying the point, even though it appeared Williams had hit her shot into the net before the linesman's original call. Azarenka, who wanted the point awarded to her, did not win the replay and was fuming as she went on to drop the set and the match.
The Belarussian, still agitated following the match, called for video replay to decide such issues. "We need to have a review," Azarenka said. "She already hit the ball."
4. Federer's replay repeat
The point replay issue came up once again during the men's semifinal between Federer and Stan Wawrinka. During the third-set tiebreaker, Wawrinka's shot was called long, but Federer scrubbed away the mark, giving the impression the shot had been in, and the point went to Wawrinka. The same umpire who replayed the Azarenka point did not allow one this time, and the 17-time Grand Slam titlist was left stunned as the point was awarded to Wawrinka.
5. Structural stumbles
Even the stadium received scrutiny during the tournament, as one portion of the scoreboard structure collapsed, falling on spectators. About 200 people were moved by security as the area was examined, suspending play for more than half an hour. One man was taken to a hospital with an injury in his wrist area and two people were examined and released. "We have opened an investigation to find out about what caused the incident," tournament director Gilbert Ysern said.
The fall happened during the quarterfinal match between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori, and in addition to everything else, the incident almost threw crowd favorite Tsonga off his game. The Frenchman had won the first set and was leading in the second set when play resumed, but a seemingly routine win turned into a marathon, and Tsonga had to go five sets to secure the victory.
6. Nadal's umpire issues
Nadal confirmed during the French Open that he had asked that Carlos Bernardes not umpire his matches for a while following arguments about time violations in the semifinal of Rio. Nadal, known for taking a long time between points and a vocal opponent of the rule, took issue with the umpire's attitude and also said the violations had not been appropriate given the humidity during the match, which was played until beyond 3 a.m. "I like him, but he was not right," Nadal said.
With limited sympathy for Nadal, other players weighed in on whether they should be allowed to choose who umpires their matches. Wawrinka said he had made similar requests, but that they should be agreed to only because of officiating error, not because the player "doesn't like" the umpire." Tsonga struck a similar note, saying that enforcing the rules was not enough of a reason. Federer noted requests should not automatically be given to top players, while Djokovic said he had never requested not to have an umpire for his matches.
Officials, for their part, said that all requests are investigated before a decision is made whether to keep an umpire off a player's matches.
Nadal, meanwhile, also received a time violation during a tense moment during his much-anticipated quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic, serving to stay in the first set at 4-5, having just won four straight games.
7. Djokovic's court complaint
Djokovic also had complaints during his quarterfinal match against Nadal, asking the umpire why the court was not watered following the first set. The clay courts are usually watered between sets, and the two had just played for 67 minutes in sunny conditions. And the top-ranked player from Serbia had another reason for wanting it done: The lower bounce of the wetter courts would help counter Nadal's heavy topspin.
Both players appeared to slip at times during the second set. "It keeps on happening every year," Djokovic said. "Chair umpire says it's a decision of the grounds people, and grounds people say it's the decision of the chair umpire."
By the time the courts were hosed down, however, Djokovic was well in command of the match.
8. Wawrinka's sensitive story
Wawrinka was unhappy with the official website's preview of his first match, which went into details of his private life. The No. 2 player from Switzerland had sent a release during the clay-court season announcing a split with his wife, Ilham, but it turned acrimonious when Ilham issued a response saying the separation had happened before the beginning of the year, adding that it was due to the player's "desire to regain his freedom."
Wawrinka was not pleased to see the details described in the article, which he called "completely stupid," adding, "For a Grand Slam website, it should be about the tennis, and that's it."
The tournament director said there would be more monitoring from now on.
9. Cornet's call confrontation
The complaints about officiating kept piling up as Alize Cornet hotly disputed one call at 5-5 in the second set during her fourth-round match. While the umpire checked the mark and agreed with Elina Svitolina's decision to stop the rally, Cornet went around and examined where her shot had landed, saying the ball had been in. "You look in my eyes and you know it," said a furious Cornet, who dropped the match in straight sets.
10. Ferrer's photo fuming
Add the courtside photographers to those who got caught up in the crossfire. David Ferrer complained of their clicking during his quarterfinal against Andy Murray, notably bothered during their first-set tiebreaker. Ferrer kept up his grumbling even as he took the third set. The Spaniard even asked the umpire if something could be done, but the cameras stayed in place to capture his exit in four sets.