Miami: It is not only tropical storms that can halt play at Florida sports events — sometimes the local wildlife forces the action to stop, as Tommy Haas discovered.
The 38-year-old’s Miami Open match with Jiri Vesely was delicately poised at 3-3 in the third set on Wednesday when a large iguana appeared on top of the scoreboard to catch some of the action.
While officials pondered whether to continue with the lizard family member enjoying the view, Haas, in his final year on the tour, decided to take a selfie with the creature.
“Maybe the iguana got the note that this is most likely the last time I’m playing here, and he wanted to say ‘Hi’ and take a peek or something,” said Haas.
“I don’t know, but it was pretty cool. Of that size, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that.
“I don’t know where he came from and why he wanted to come out on court one and kind of say hello to everyone.”
While the crowd enjoyed the moment, officials couldn’t cajole the iguana away and decided to continue play with the creature still in sight.
But Vesely complained to the umpire that he couldn’t concentrate fully on the game with the unusual fan at courtside and play was stopped, resuming only after the iguana had scampered across the court and then been carefully taken away in a towel.
While insects and bugs are a frequent annoyance for Floridian tennis players, golfers are more used to being joined my some of the Sunshine State’s better known wildlife.
Just last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational PGA Tour event in Orlando, an eight-foot alligator entered the course during the first round.
Cody Gribble, a 26-year-old rookie, wasn’t fazed by the situation however, calmly patting the reptile’s tail which prompted a leap back into the water.
The incident was caught on television and Gribble’s cool approach impressed many.
But sometimes things can get scary.
In February, a 75-year-old amateur golfer in North Fort Myers was dragged away by a 10-foot alligator and only managed to escape from the water after smashing the reptile in the eye with his golf club.
