Spanish tennis star Garbiñe Muguruza had to leave a post-match press conference in tears after a French Open defeat in which the crowd was slammed as “pathetic”.

Muguruza’s bid to defend her Roland Garros title ended on Sunday (local time) as Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic posted a 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory.

But it was not the defeat Muguruza took issue with, instead hitting out at the supporters on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The partisan crowd roared Mladenovic on to an upset victory, desperate to see a local win the women’s singles for the first time since Mary Pierce achieved the feat in 2010. 

“It’s a very painful defeat here in the French Open,” she said afterwards.

“The crowd was really tough today. I can’t really understand. I don’t know how to explain.

“If you had been in my shoes on the court, I think you would have understood.

“I don’t know what people were expecting. I’d rather not say anything more.”

The 23-year-old momentarily walked out on her press conference in tears, before later returning.

“I love this tournament no matter what happens,” she added.

“I’m going to be super happy to come back.”

Muguruza’s coach, Sam Sumyk, took to Twitter to express his disappointment with the crowd.

Congrats to k. Mladenovic.@GarbiMuguruza very proud of you.Never simple to be defending champion.To the French crowd, pathetic, no class!!

— Sam Sumyk (@SamSumyk) June 4, 2017

Mladenovic played her part in the noise, repeatedly shouting ‘Forza!’ [an Italian rallying cry] while she also revved the crowd up on multiple occasions.

“I don’t think that they [crowd] crossed the line,” Mladenovic said afterwards.

“I mean, I noticed once.

“And I think it was bad, when they kind of screamed between her first and second serve, but that’s because they thought it’s a double fault because the first serve was a let or something.”

Mladenovic will play Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, in her quarter-final.

The 27-year-old Swiss came from a set down to upset Venus Williams 5-7 6-2 6-1 in her last-16 clash.