Tags changed from "bird,killed,tennis,player,doubles" to "pigeon, killed, tennis, player, doubles" by gold star member ant.

I hope that wasn't Pigeon!!

To the top 15 you go!

From the slo-mo at the end, it looks like the ball deflected inside the player. Does this count, giving the point to the killer? Or do they restart from the previous serve or something?

Haha, I don't know if they've got a rule for suicidal animals. Since the bird wasn't exactly part of the court, I'd guess they redo the point.

The ITF's Rule 26 Case 3 - Hindrance: If the ball hits a bird in flight the point is replayed

I think that's really crappy that the crowd is laughing at killing the bird.

You can feel sorry for the bird and still laugh at the absurdity of what happened. It's not as if the bird's family is at home watching and you have to consider their feelings.

Apparently, a baseball isn't the only bird killing ball anymore. What next, football/soccer? Now that would be interesting

@Nebosuke: laughter can mean things other than just amusement. I don't think the crowd as a whole actually thought the bird kill was frakkin' funny.

Yes, praying for a creature no immortal soul *is* funny.

Trippin'.

What I find more hilarious than any (inadvertent) animal abuse is the fact that I was also wondering what the technical rule is. Thanks michie, for coming to the rescue with that answer.

*note to the PETA crowd. I don't endorse destroying animals, I'm being facetious as usual. I happened to see a squirrel as roadkill today and it was sad.

> What next, football/soccer?

I'm waiting for a hockey puck/ freak ostrich thing.

Was that a joke religious ceremony for the bird, or did that guy mean it?

I say joke (and hence the laughter)

Yea, joke, you can see him smiling about it.

*dark *sports *timeshift sift

Adding video to channels (Dark, Sports, Timeshift) - requested by Krupo.