| | MELBOURNE, Australia -- An animal rights activist ran onto
the center court Sunday during the Australian Open men's final
between Andre Agassi and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
Holding a video camera, the black-clad man with a yellow hat
jumped past barriers and spun around a few times in the middle of
the court. Then he climbed over the net.
Both Agassi and Kafelnikov, who had just started the first point
of the fourth set, stood behind the baseline, yards away from the
intruder. Guards swiftly ushered him away from the court and the
point was replayed.
Authorities identified the intruder as Peter Hore, an activist
who has disrupted other events while shouting slogans to promote
his cause. He has interrupted the Melbourne Cup horse race, a World
Cup soccer qualifying soccer match between Australia and Iran, and
the funeral of singer Michael Hutchence.
Police planned to charge Hore, who did not have a ticket for the
tennis final, with trespassing. Local media have described Hore as
a "serial pest."
"It was just a bit absurd. I didn't think much about it," said
Agassi, who beat Kafelnikov in four sets. | |
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