PERV ALERT
Girl, 11, escapes abduct try at Qns. tennis mecca
WITH CROWDS of children flooding the tournament grounds two days before the start of the U.S. Open, a man tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl watching a tennis practice on one of the outer courts.
The man, police said, preyed upon the girl with her relatives just feet away, and in the midst of performances by pop stars and interactive games, all part of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
As the girl watched the action around 3:45 p.m., the suspect approached her from behind and grabbed her wrist, police said.
He demanded she go with him, but the brave girl pulled her arm free and kicked the creep, cops said. The man then fled.
The shocking attack came less than an hour after the annual kids’ show wrapped up inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium show court.
This year’s show included performances by rapper Flo Rida and singer Laura Marano, as well as appearances by tennis superstars Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Play in the tournament’s main draw starts Monday.
Police released a surveillance photo (right) of a suspect Saturday night. He is described as around 30 years old, 200 pounds and between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-11.
He has a tattoo with words on his right wrist, police said.
Anyone with information can call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS.