Toni Nadal slams anti-Rafa Paris crowds (French Open diary)

PARIS - Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle Toni has slammed Roland Garros spectators for jeering his nephew during his first-ever loss at the French Open tennis.

Gallic-Iberian tensions came to the fore as Nadal went down to Swede Robin Soderling. Toni told Catalan radio the Paris crowds, which booed his nephew when he retired last November at Paris Bercy, also gave him hell during his loss to Soderling.

“There is only one set of supporters that is worse than the French and that is the Parisians,” Toni said. “I think the French don’t like it when a Spaniard wins.”

“Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior.”

Four time Paris champion Nadal himself, due to fly to London from Mallorca Saturday to begin the grass campaign at Queen’s, added: “I wish when I’m back they can support me a bit more in key moments.”

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Davydenko faces UK visa drama

Nikolay Davydenko faces a visa crisis which could prevent him from seeking his first career victory from Monday at the Queen’s club event in London.

The French Open quarter-finalist who lost to Robin Soderling is rushing to get his passport stamped so he can enter Britain. He hopes to play the Wimbledon warm-up for only the second time, last competing in 2006.

But as a Russian, the process can be torturous to enter the European Union. Requirement include an interview with a consular officer, which has been tough to schedule amid a British holiday and the heat of playing a Grand Slam.

“I tried last week, I could have taken an appointment, but I played three days in a row,” said the world number 11. “I missed it and then there was a holiday on Monday.

I’ll try tomorrow. Some players say it could take 10 days and that would be trouble for me.

“If I only receive my visa at the end of next week. I don’t know what I can do. I need to be ready to play by Monday at Queen’s. I wish it could go faster for us.”