Mikhail Youzhny writes 'SORRI' in clay at French Open

Mikhail Youzhny felt the need to express his emotions to the crowd watching him at the French Open on Saturday and the red dirt surface used at Roland Garros allowed him the perfect opportunity.

Trailing badly to Spain's David Ferrer 0-6, 0-2 in a third round tie, the Russian had just won his first game when he traced with his foot inside the baseline the (misspelled) word "sorri"

That brought a round of applause and encouragement from the fans sitting in the warm sun on the Suzanne Lenglen showcourt, but it did not do too much good for Youzhny's prospects.

He lost 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hours 41 minutes as Ferrer, whose knickname is "The Bulldozer", flattened him to reach the last 16.

Claycourt artistry at Roland Garros has been used in the past notably by the darling of the French crowds, three-time winner Gusatvo Kuerten, who celebrated his great triumphs here by tracing the shape of a heart on the dusty surface and then lying down on his back inside it.