Channels  Ethnic brawl rocks Aus Open By: Agencies January 16, 2007 MELBOURNE: One of the nations biggest international sporting events endured its blackest day yesterday as Serbs, Croats and Greeks clashed at the Australian Open tennis and threatened further ethnic warfare as the Grand Slam event continues. Contingency plans
More trouble could erupt today, with Ilia Bozoljac of Serbia and Marin Cilic of Croatia due to play each other, but Tennis Australia and Victorian police say they have contingency plans to stop a repeat of yesterdays clashes involving about 150 people on the first day of competition at Melbourne Park. Acting Superintendent Chris Duthie said police were working closely with Tennis Australia and were aware of the encounter on court 21 but would not elaborate on their strategies. Were putting troublemakers on notice, Mr Duthie said. We will not tolerate members of the public disrupting a family event. The violence attracted headlines worldwide as fans gathered in Melbourne for the first of the years grand slams - the four tournaments that represent the pinnacle of tennis achievement and that have historically been known for nothing more aggressive than a John McEnroe tantrum. Unprecedented Yesterdays violence was thought to be unprecedented at a big tennis tournament. The Serbian player Jelena Jankovic said she was concerned about the Bozoljac-Cilic match, and suggested Melbourne had a unique problem with the old rivalries between Serbs and Croats, which have previously sparked clashes at soccer matches. You know, I just hope (there) will not be fights, she said. I hope that it will go in a peaceful way. Because I think just here in Melbourne that there is this kind of problem. Anywhere else in the world its fine.  Email this article  Print this article  Post / View comments | 
