It’s lame you can’t make noise during a tennis match, but you can charge on the court and touch star players so it evens out. During what might have been the biggest match in tennis history (Roger Federer won the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, tie Pete Sampras for the most major titles, and, coupled with his recent clay court championship over nemesis Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open, flatten the final arguments he isn’t the greatest player of all-time), a Barcelona F.C. fan rushed on the court. And not just on the court, but directly at Federer. And he wasn’t content with reaching Roger; he then forcibly put a beret on Roger’s head.

Security finally got involved at this point, denying us the chance to see what other delightful antics the man had prepared. (Did he want to tickle Federer? Give him a purple nurple? How about painting on a moustache to match the beret?) The match resumed, with Roger holding it together to complete the historic win in straight sets. Afterwards, Federer conceded his visitor was “a touch scary” but otherwise the beret-bearer was treated as no big deal. After all, it’s not as if a situation like that could ever turn dangerous, right?

Of course not, unless you consider having a boning knife plunged into your back unsafe. In 1993 Monica Seles was the most dominant player in men or women’s tennis, with eight Grand Slam titles to her name at 19. Then a fan slipped onto the court and stabbed her between the shoulder blades. While the physical damage was minor, she was traumatized enough to stay away for over two years (she was not comforted when her assailant’s punishment consisted of a two-year suspended sentence). She did return to tennis, but was never the same player and won only a single additional Grand Slam. Tennis officials insisted lessons were learned and never again would a player’s safety be in such jeopardy.

I hope that’s comforting to Roger when he’s serving for Grand Slam title  #15 and sees out of the corner of his eye a strange man inches away and has to hope he’s again dealing with headgear, not homicide.

 

Man of the Moment appears each Wednesday. 

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