Federer Accosted At French Open (VIDEO)

Midway through Roger Federer's championship match at the French Open on Sunday, a most bizarre event occurred: a spectator waving a flag climbed through the photographer's pit and onto Federer's side of the court.

Federer backed away toward the backstop, but the fan caught up with him and tried to put a hat on Federer's head. Security personnel seemed slow to react before chasing the man to the other side of the court, and he was tackled, then carried out.

There was silence from the stunned crowd, then the familiar chant of "Ro-ger! Ro-ger!" when the bizarre episode ended. Federer readjusted his headband, Soderling gave him a thumbs-up sign and play resumed.

Watch video:

Comments

[leftoflennon]

I love Roger sooo much..

[periscope]

While I greatly admire Federer as a decent man and a great tennis player, I think it is arguable as to whether he is "the greatest ever." He may wind up with the best record of Grand Slam wins, but even that won't prove he would have bested Bill Tilden, Rod Laver or Pete Sampras in their heyday.
His greatness is also besides the point. All professional players deserve protection from lunatics who run onto courts or sports fields intent on harming athletes.
One wonders what Monica Seles would have achieved if not for that damaging attack in Germany.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Pete Sampras said, "Roger's the best ever." Glad you know better!

[nowpolitics]

That is why it is a competitive sports and you have to WIN. Get it? He has WON 14 grand slams and all the 4 major ones. Although he is currently tied with Pete Sampras for this, Pete did not win French Open. Pete himself called him the greatest. So what is your point really? He also has the potential of winning more and getting ahead.

[AngusC]

Congratulations Roger.
That is all the more awesome to see that that could happen to him and he remain composed and still win.
Champion.

[strawberryfields4ever]

Couldn't help but laugh at the stupidity of the situation.­I can't believe this guy was able to get that close to Federer and even had time to pin the hat on him before security did anything.

[Boyaca]

Federer is the best tennis player to ever play the game. He is a world class treasure and needs to be protected. He has always been a class act.

[BunnyFooFoo]

So, this guy is a serial jerk. I am so glad Roger wasn't hurt. He is a great guy. Part of me wishes that Roger would have given this fool a racquet to the head.

[jweider]

They should have tazed him just to send a message to others.

[MrMojoRisin]

I told you before the match in the restroom Sen. Craig, I'm not interested!

[ab73]

Man, what do people want? Security guards standing shoulder to shoulder in a ring around the court?
You could build 8 foot high barbed fences, but 96 Liverpool FC fans died at Hillsborough because of those.

If some idiot wants to bullrush the court there is not much that can be done to stop them, short of destroying the experience for the 99.9999999­9% of the public that can behave.

[SoryaGArt]

In case you are not aware what happened to Monica Seles, please read this article. It's been happened before; with all the money that goes in each one of these tournaments, there should be more security guards, and maybe fast reacting ones too!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/30/newsid_2499000/2499161.stm

[ab73]

Only a person who had not spent the last 2 decades on Mars would not know about Seles and the lunatic Steffi Graf stalker.

Of course they could stop every person getting on the court. They used to do it in the UK with massive fences around soccer pitches - until 96 people were killed.

Thats the point - what price are you willing to pay for the absolute absence of risk in life?

[hackerblaster]

The headline SHOCK VIDEO shocks me because this is not a shocking video.

[awwo]

Look, Roger gets accosted and still takes less time in between point than Nadal or Djokovic

[devans00]

Roger Federer is a cool customer. I'd be too scared and shaken to continue after that nonsense.

Although I did get a laugh at the clown in the red shirt having the presence of mind to jump the net while running away from the security guards. I guess that was his #2 fantasy after giving Federer his hat.

[Jesse Kelly 1]

I wonder what Soderling would have done if that guy wasn't tackled and made it to him...

[thebirdstheword]

soderling would have taken him out.

[jjgg5]

Perhaps, he is another hysterical "journalist' for "Fixx News". It's possible.

[lawrencelugar]

I'd have took a swung at his face - in the name of self-defense.