Sports

Thursday September 10, 2009

Sealed with a kiss

MAYBE what it takes to complete a career Grand Slam these days is having a spectator run out of the stands past security guards for an on-court show of support.

Roger Federer shrugged off a mid-match intruder at the French Open final to win and complete his career Grand Slam and Rafael Nadal has the same chance now that his bid to finish a career Slam at the US Open has been sealed with a kiss.

The Spanish third seed was greeted and kissed by an overzealous male fan on Tuesday on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court moments after defeating French 13th seed Gael Monfils 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

“For me, it wasn’t a problem,” Nadal said. “The guy was really nice.

A security guard blocks a man who approached Nadal after his win over Gael Monfils.

“He was a great fan. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.”

Asked if the intruder spoke Spa­­nish, Nadal cracked, “No, in English, but I understand that.”

The spectator, camera in hand as he ran from the stands, was able to reach Nadal as he began gathering his belongings at his chair and meet his hero before security guards pulled him away.

Nadal is trying to become just the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles.

Four-time French Open winner Nadal, whose reign was ended this year, won Wimbledon in 1998 and this year’s Australian Open and hopes to improve upon his best US Open showing, last year’s semi-final run.

Tennis has had its own special horror about spectators confronting players since 1993, when Monica Seles was stabbed in the back during a change-over at a match in Germany.

But the hapless intruder proved harmless and instead brought back memories of the French Open final.

That’s when a Spanish interloper who regularly leaps into the action at sports events rushed up to Federer during the final, later saying he only wanted to show support for the Swiss star.

That incident happened with Federer leading Sweden’s Robin Soderling 6-1, 2-1 and stunned onlookers at Philippe Chatrier centre court.

The man tried in vain to put a hat on Federer’s head before security guards chased the man around the court before he was carried off forcefully.

Federer, who won the match 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 to complete his career Slam, recalled similar spectator intrusions in matches at Wimbledon and Montreal.

Federer went on to win the Wimbledon crown for a record 15th career Grand Slam crown, passing Pete Sampras for the all-time mark.

And he didn’t even receive a lucky kiss for the effort. — AFP

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll