Tennis-Czech President Klaus survives Roddick serve

...apparently that does not apply to tennis balls as well.

Klaus, sitting in the front row of the Czech Republic's Davis Cup tie against the United States, was on the receiving end of a serve from Andy Roddick, owner of the fastest serve in the game today.

Roddick's blast bounced up and hit Klaus, an avid tennis player himself, in the chest. The president was unhurt in the incident. Roddick played on unaware.

"I didn't notice that," Roddick said, smiling when told about the incident.

"But I said in warm-up that most of the time, there's a net behind the wall and I saw that this one (arena) didn't have one, so someone might be dodging some tennis balls today. But I promise you that it was nothing personal."

Roddick, who holds the record for the fastest serve at 154 miles per hour (247.8 kmh) added insult to injury by going on to beat Czech Ivo Minar in the match.

((Editing by Mark Meadows, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging: mark.meadows.reuters.com@reuters.net;44 20 7542 0071))

Keywords: TENNIS DAVIS/CZECH PRESIDENT

[Reuters/Finance.cz]