French Open interrupted by sonic boom over Paris

Some eyewitness in the city mistook the noise for an explosion

Matches at the French Open were interrupted when a sonic boom was heard around Paris on Wednesday.

The clay-court tennis tournament, one of the sport’s four Grand Slams, takes place at Roland Garros in the French capital, where a loud noise was heard shortly before 1pm local time.

The sound was heard across northern suburbs and as far south as Choisy-le-Roi, with eyewitnesses reporting buildings rocking and windows shaking.

Some feared the sound and scenes were the result of an explosion, but police wrote on Twitter: “There is no explosion.

“It is to do with a fighter plane that crossed the sound barrier.

“Do not burden the phone lines of the emergency services.”

Stanislas Wawrinka, champion at the French Open in 2016, was among those in action in the second round when the noise was heard.

The Swiss’ opponent Dominik Koepfer was about to serve in the second game of the first set when he shuddered upon hearing the sonic boom, which also caught the attention of spectators.

Koepfer looked to the sky before directing his gaze at Wawrinka, who was standing across the court in bemusement.

The players quickly resumed play.