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 Saturday, January 29
Activist runs onto center court
 
Associated Press

 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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