French Open bans Maxime Hamou over repeated attempts to kiss reporter on live TV

Tennis player Maxime Hamou has been banned by the organisers of the French Open and forced to apologise after he repeatedly tried to kiss a female reporter interviewing him live on TV.

The 21-year-old Frenchman kissed Eurosport journalist Maly Thomas while holding her around her neck and shoulders on Tuesday (30 May).

Thomas was pictured trying to resist the tennis star on the TV programme 'Avantage Leconte' after his first-round loss to Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.

The French Tennis Federation (FTT) condemned the "reprehensible behaviour" and ordered an investigation into the World No287's conduct and revoked his accreditation.

"The management of the tournament has decided to revoke Maxime Hamou's accreditation following his reprehensible behaviour with a journalist yesterday," the French Tennis Federation said in a statement.

Huffington Post France spoke to Thomas who described Hamou's actions as "frankly unpleasant". "If I hadn't been live on air, I would have punched him," she said.

Commentators from the Eurosport studio could be seen laughing at the incident and one even clapped as he attempted to grope the journalist.

Hamou took to Facebook on Tuesday to apologise, saying: "I offer my deep apologies to Maly Thomas if she feels hurt or shocked by my attitude during her interview.

"I have just spent a magnificent week here at Roland Garros... and I expressed my overflow of enthusiasm crudely towards Maly, who I know and respect sincerely.

"I'm still learning every day from my mistakes to become a better tennis player and a better person."

Eurosport welcomed Hamou's apology and also showed contrition after the incident.

"We sincerely regret the incident that occurred during yesterday evening's interview," they said in a statement quoted by the BBC.

The incident echoes of a similar incident which took place between West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle and a TV reporter in January 2016.

Gayle drew a barrage of criticism after he asked Mel McLaughlin for a date in a live interview and later fined $7,200 (£4,900) by his club for "inappropriate conduct".