Male fan arrested after rushing court to hug and kiss a shirtless Rafael Nadal at the US Open

A male fan got too close for comfort to tennis star Rafael Nadal after his match at the US Open Tuesday night. Rafa was changing his shirt to get ready for a TV interview when the day runs down and gives the Spanish heartthrob a hug and a kiss.

The NY Times reports that  “although surprised, Nadal did not seem to be shaken by the incident, and even smiled as it happened.

“For me it wasn’t a problem,” said Nadal, noting that the man spoke in English. “The guy was really nice. He was a great fan. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kiss me.”

Nadal had just removed his shirt and was preparing for an on-court interview when the man suddenly emerged with a camera to approach him.

While he seemed to take it in stride, it is really alarming how vulnerable players can be to these wackos who do stuff like this. A similar incident occurred during this year’s French Open final to Roger Federer.

We can laugh about it or brush it off but it has to be taken seriously. Just ask Monica Seles who was stabbed in the back during a changeover back in 1993. Her career was never the same but the brave girl returned to the sport after a few years off. Does something like that have to happen again before security at these events is elevated to protect its stars?

Here is video of the incident plus Rafa’s on-court interview: