MELBOURNE, Australia — A streaker dashed on court while Venus and Serena Williams played doubles Friday at the Australian Open, prancing around before being arrested.
The Williams sisters were working on a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Ayumi Morita and Germany’s Martina Muller when the man, wearing only a shirt, sprinted across the sidelines and made several dance moves before heading toward an exit.
He was met by security guards as he left, arrested and banned for the event. He was not immediately identified. Australian Open officials said the streaker was on the court for 14 seconds.
“The focus of the on-court security team is always on player protection,” a statement from tournament officials said. “They are instructed not to chase offenders as their focus at all times must remain on the players. The on-court actions of the security personnel reflected this focus on player protection.”
The incident added to a busy day for police at the Grand Slam event, with a near-riot breaking out between Serbian and Bosnian fans after Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, beat Bosnian-born American Amer Delic.
About 30 people were ejected from Melbourne Park, two men were arrested and another was fined for their roles in the chair-throwing melee that caused some minor injuries.
In 2006, Wimbledon officials said they were considering the installation of security screens or fences around Center Court after two security breaches.
During Roger Federer’s quarterfinal win over Mario Ancic, two men came on the court with rackets and balls, and one of them hit a shot. A day earlier, a streaker interrupted a quarterfinal match and danced and cartwheeled only 10 feet from Maria Sharapova.
Security at tournaments was increased after former No. 1 Monica Seles was stabbed in 1993 by a man who ran on court during a match in Hamburg, Germany.
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