"Fragile" Tennis Rackets
Have you ever thought of a tennis racket as a weapon? Well, apparently some airline security experts now include tennis rackets on their list of prohibited carry-on items along with guitars. For the first time in more than 20 years of traveling with my tennis rackets, airline security officials in Australia insisted that all tennis rackets be placed in “fragile” checked baggage. In addition, I was required to sign a waiver which stated that the airline
was not responsible if the racket was damaged during the flight! While I fully appreciate the need for post 9/11 airline security, the experience was unsettling given I'd always felt quite protective of my rackets while traveling around the world. Even if there were tons of other free rackets waiting at the tournament or in storage at home, the ones I was carrying with me were “the ones”… at least for the next match! Although I haven't yet asked Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova how they feel about checking their rackets, I would guess that there might be just a little "separation anxiety"... Then again, when you switch rackets with every ball change as most top players now do, you can't become too attached to any one frame!
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