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Large metal panel falls onto crowd at French Open [Video]

A metal panel fell onto spectators in the stands Tuesday at the French Open in Paris.

A metal panel fell onto spectators in the stands Tuesday at the French Open in Paris.

(Robert Ghement / EPA)
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Play was temporarily suspended at the French Open on Tuesday morning after a large piece of metal paneling fell off a giant video screen and onto the crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros in Paris.

Here's another view:

Tennis writer Rene Denfeld tweeted that the incident was "genuinely scary stuff."

The Associated Press is reporting that three spectators were injured, but none seriously. One man smiled and waved to the crowd was treated by first-aid workers for a what appeared to be a wrist injury.

Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were playing their quarterfinal match under windy conditions when a loud bang was heard and the panel -- which had pigeon spikes on it and was described by the Associated Press as "larger than a bed" -- came crashing down.

It is unclear what caused the panel to fall.

Both players were sent to the locker room with Tsonga leading the second set, 5-2, after winning the first, 6-1. More than 200 spectators were evacuated from the area, which was taped off while the back of the video board was inspected.

Play resumed after about a 40-minute delay.

UPDATE10:45 a.m.: This post was updated to state that three people were injured.This post was first published at 9:52 a.m.
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