Paris: Roger Federer blasted French Open organisers on Sunday after a fan breached tight security and raced on to court to grab a ‘selfie’ with the Swiss great.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner had just completed a routine 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Colombia’s Alejandro Falla when he was shocked to see a young fan sprinting towards him on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court.
It was particularly embarrassing as security at this year’s French Open has been tightened following January’s deadly Islamist attack on Paris-based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Although the male fan was quickly whisked away, 33-year-old Federer was furious with the lapse in security.
“I am not happy about it. It happened yesterday in the practice, too. And today on centre court where you would think this is a place where nobody can come on, just wanders on and nothing happens,” the Swiss legend fumed.
Tournament director Gilbert Ysern admitted that Federer was right to be angry and admitted that the youth, who had been sitting in the courtside sponsors boxes, had been banned from the event. “But it’s not the end of the world,” added Ysern.
Meanwhile, Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori enjoyed a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 win over France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu and next faces either Australia’s Marinko Matosevic or Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil.
Among women, Romania’s Simona Halep, the 2014 runner-up and third seed, saw off Russian world number 91 Evgeniya Rodina 7-5, 6-4. Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova breezed past US wildcard Louisa Chirico 6-4, 6-2 while Spanish 21st seed Garbine Muguruza, who shocked Serena Williams in the second round last year, beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-2, 7-5.
