• Registered: Jan. 16, 2009
  • Posts: 82

Topic: Are players really safe?

Just doing some research for a blog and came across the story about the man who ran onto the court and kissed Rafael Nadal. He ran up to him, kissed him, and said 'I love you'. As touching as that is, it doesn't make the security at Flushign Meadows look good.

What with the incident at Rolland Garros with Federer havign happened this year, as well as the clashes with fans after a Djokovic match in Australia, maybe security is slacking around tennis events. Which seems ridiculous, as most sports events are imprenetrable even for players with the amount of security, which has increased over time.

What does everyone else think? Tennis being left in the wayside becuase the fans have on the whole behaved themselves? Or are the rather more eager fans simply getting better at jumping fences?

Last edited by SophieG (Sep. 11, 2009 3:05am)

  • Registered: Jan. 18, 2009
  • Posts: 29

Re: Are players really safe?

The thing at the French Open with Federer was crazy! (you accidentally said it was Wimbledon). That guy was standing in front of Federer for 30 seconds before any of the dazed security people did anything. He could have had a weapon or he could have been a crazy violennt person. They pretend to have security, but the security is a joke. Monica Seles was stabbed by a crazy Graff fan, and if security does not improve then this type of thing will happen again.

  • Registered: Jan. 16, 2009
  • Posts: 82

Re: Are players really safe?

Cheers for that, just edited it smile I was probably thinking about all the crazy streakers we get at Wimbledon.

Well that's what people feared, he could have done anything and Federer was completely defenceless. The 'what ifs' dont bear thinking of, but maybe the security set up for each tournament should be dwelling on what ifs, because they appear to be very slack.

It was the same with the Nadal incident. He wasn't bothered by it, in fact claimed that the man was a very nice guy, but still he could have been out there to do something a lot less innocent. And this is America, where most events are very tightly secured and watched carefully, so I dont know how he managed it.

Hmmm, thinking about the Monica Sales thing is chilling, isnt it? It does make you worry that something like that could occur again if no-one pays attention to the security issues.

  • Nole
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  • Registered: May. 17, 2009
  • Posts: 18

Re: Are players really safe?

Whoa, that's scary. I cant believe someone got so close to Rafa they could kiss him! poor guy, that must be a shock!!
I hope they do something about security because the last thing anyone wants is for a player to get hurt. fingers crossed nothing happens

  • kim1
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  • Registered: Jun. 17, 2009
  • Posts: 39

Re: Are players really safe?

The streakers at Wimbledon are actually fun - I don't think anyone feels threatened by them and they liven up the day. But the other people are crazy and could do anything. I wonder what type of punishment they get?

  • Registered: Jan. 16, 2009
  • Posts: 82

Re: Are players really safe?

The guy who kissed Nadal was arrested for interfering with a sporting event. They could face a year in jail or roughly $50,000 fine.
But Im not sure the guy's fate has been decided yet. Feel quite sorry for him; he seemed quite geniune and Nadal even tried to stop the guards from grabbing him so harshly. But still, it's scary what could have happened.

Yet again, we might as well not do everything if we always finish with 'well, we have to think of what COULD have happened'