Nicolas Mahut's tears of sadness turned into comforting joy at the French Open after his seven-year-old son Natanel ran on to court to console him after losing a third round match.

The French tennis veteran, ranked 252 in the world, saw his hopes of reaching the last-16 for the first time - and the chance of a clash with Roger Federer - slip away in a four-set defeat last Friday. 

The youngster ensured there was not a dry eye on Court Simonne Mathieu as spectators, Mahut and even Argentine opponent Mayer were left in floods of tears after he ran on court to console his emotional father. 

Mahut struggled to keep back the tears after the loss and his son, sporting a white cap, noticed his father's distress and ran up to him courtside. 

Fans and Mayer, who himself began to tear up, gave the duo a standing ovation as they left the court.