Scoreboard collapses on spectators at French Open: Play suspended after metal panel falls on crowd at Roland Garros amid high winds

Incident happened as local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was playing Japanese Kei Nishikori

An ambulance transports an injured spectator (GETTY IMAGES)

Play was suspended at the French Open today after a large metal side panel fell onto the crowd amid high winds at Roland Garros.

Video footage shows the moment the rectangular panel fell from a commentary box terrace, forcing the evacuation of two rows of seats at the upper end of Court Philippe Chatrier.

Play was suspended for about 15 minutes and organisers said they needed "10 more minutes" to make the area safe before the quarter-final between France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Japanese Kei Nishikori resumed.

One man was taken away by medical staff but he seemed okay as he waved at the crowd.

The incident pic.twitter.com/p7NQHP8joI

— Steph Trudel (@TrudelSteph) June 2, 2015

An ambulance transports an injured spectator (GETTY IMAGES)

Members of security move spectators after a piece of the scoreboard above Court Philippe Chatrier was blown off in high winds (GETTY IMAGE)

Strong winds have been blowing in Paris all day.