Liverpool tennis star Skupski told of grandmother's death moments after Wimbeldon win
The Liverpool FC fan had already been left shaken by the death of Reds' forward Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain earlier on Thursday.
Skupski and partner Joe Salisbury had just beaten fellow Britons Jacob Fearnley and Charles Broom 6-3 5-7 6-4 when he came off court and was informed of his grandmother's death.
"I found out this morning that Jota had passed away, and then I just found out my nan has just passed today as well," he said.
"So yeah, it's been a very tough day.
"She was 98 – she was a fighter. She'd been a little bit ill for a while.
"We've known it was a matter of time for a few days now, but it was a bit tough to take once I found out when I came off court."
Skupski, a three-time Wimbledon champion, described his grandmother Mary as the grandparent he was closest to growing up and said: "She would've wanted me to be here and she'd be proud of me for what happened today, fighting through.
"It was just a bit tough to take when I found out when we got off court."
He had earlier spoken about how difficult it was to concentrate after finding out about Jota's death.
He said: "You never think your heroes or sportsmen you look up to – you think they're invincible, but it just shows that everyone's human.
"It's really tough to take."
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva were killed when their car crashed while driving to catch a ferry to England.
Skupski says he met Jota on a visit to the Liverpool training base, described him as "not just an amazing footballer, but an incredible person – so down to earth – someone who kept the dressing room running smoothly".
Skupski said he had considered wearing a black armband during the match but chose not to. "Maybe in the next couple of days," he added.
Salisbury paid tribute to his teammate, saying: "Neil's done a great job – most people wouldn't really know.
"Once you step on court, you try and focus, but this really puts things in perspective."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
2 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Who are the surprise Premier League leaders in the race to sign Rodrygo?
Our expert analyses a potential summer move for Rodrygo to the Premier League. The Brazilian is 6/4 to join Liverpool, 7/2 to sign for Spurs and 4/1 to move to PSG before the end of the transfer window with Sky Bet. Already a Sky Bet member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Real uncertainty surrounds Rodrygo With Arsenal signing Viktor Gyokeres, Liverpool snapping up Hugo Ekitike and strongly linked with a move for Alexander Isak, and both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha joining Manchester United, it has been a busy summer for transfers involving forwards in the Premier League. Real Madrid ace Rodrygo is the latest to be linked with a switch to the English top flight with Liverpool, the perhaps surprising 6/4 favourites with Sky Bet to secure his signature. Rodrygo was a first-team regular under former manager Carlo Ancelotti but there have been signs that may not be the case under new boss Xabi Alonso. The 24-year-old winger made just three appearances at this summer's Club World Cup with Alonso initially favouring a 4-3-1-2 formation and deploying two of Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior or Kylian Mbappe up top. That said, there have been suggestions that Rodrygo may want to stay put in Madrid and he could yet sign a new deal to quash rumours of a move away. 🚨 Rodrygo is IN LOVE with Real Madrid. He would be happy to stay & FIGHT for his place. He is NOT desperate to leave. If a TOP team arrives later & offers him an important contract & to be their star, we'll see, but this is NOT the case so far. @FabrizioRomano @DAZNFutbol — Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 4, 2025 Premier League clubs size up Brazilian If Real Madrid deem Rodrygo surplus to requirements, there are a handful of clubs keen on signing him. Tottenham Hotspur are 7/2 shots to be his next destination, with PSG and Any Saudi Pro League Club both priced at 4/1. A switch to Arsenal, meanwhile, is a touch bigger at 9/2. Spurs could be an interesting one. Their Europa League triumph last season means they can offer Rodrygo Champions League football, which is surely an imperative for the Brazilian. It would be a real statement signing under Thomas Frank, who is set to lose forward Son Heung-min this summer. It is no secret that Arsenal fans want more attacking options for the club to seriously compete for the title and, although it would involve switching flanks, Rodrygo could form a devastating Gunners front line with Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka. But it is Liverpool who are the most likely Premier League destination for him, despite Arne Slot's side having already spent heavily this summer. Check out our season preview and outright tips for the Championship or read about our best Premier League season handicap bets Liverpool continue forward thinking Florian Wirtz was Liverpool's marquee signing for £116million from Bayer Leverkusen, while the Reds further bolstered their attacking options by signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m. They appear to still be in the hunt for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who would also set the club back more than £100m, so can they really be expected to sign Rodrygo as well? Although he played on the right wing at Madrid, Rodrygo could be viewed as a potential replacement for Luis Diaz, who has moved to Bayern Munich, and would be a more viable option to play on the wing than Ekitike, who is better suited to playing down the middle. But Rodrygo has also been identified as a potential alternative to Isak, meaning the Brazilian could play through the middle himself if a move to Anfield materialises, and it is more likely a case of one or the other, rather than the Merseysiders signing both players. Rodrygo to sign for before September 2, 2025 – Odds Liverpool @ 6/4 Tottenham Hotspur @ 7/2 PSG @ 4/1 Any Saudi Pro League club @ 4/1 Arsenal @ 9/2 Chelsea @ 6/1 Manchester City @ 6/1 Manchester United @ 16/1 Newcastle United @ 16/1 Odds courtesy of Sky Bet. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
BreakingNews.ie
2 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
I don't think about it – Liverpool's Florian Wirtz unfazed by £100m price tag
Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz insists his price tag is irrelevant to him and he is just focused on making the Premier League champions better ahead of their title defence. The Germany attacking midfielder arrived at Anfield for an initial £100million, with a further £16m of achievable add-ons making his move from Bayer Leverkusen a potentially British record-breaking one. Advertisement However, speaking after impressing in a 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Monday evening, the 22-year-old brushed off the figures involved. Wirtz insists his price tag does not affect him (Peter Byrne/PA) 'I don't think about it. I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn't matter,' he said. 'Of course the big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing so (I will) try and just create chances and also work against the ball. 'I can also run a lot so (I will) bring this to the team and then with the ball I can make the team better and bring my team-mates into better situations. Advertisement 'I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying to play with these players and getting every time a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going.' Wirtz's game is based around carrying the ball with purpose and bringing team-mates into play with his close control and lots of touches in and around the penalty area. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Florian Wirtz (@flowirtz) However, he will also provide a goal threat – he scored 57 times in 197 appearances for Leverkusen – and almost broke the deadlock against Bilbao with a header which clipped the crossbar. He may find the Premier League is less forgiving than the Bundesliga but he is looking forward to finding out. Advertisement 'I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me because I have to respect the position and the players around me,' he added. 'I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get the ball and to be dangerous and create chances – I have not played a match in the Premier League but I am looking forward and that is why I came.' First appearances as Reds at Anfield for our summer arrivals ✊🔴 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 4, 2025 Sport Mohamed Salah scores as Liverpool unleash £270m ne... Read More Asked whether he thought playing in England was more difficult than Germany and whether he would be able to continue to play his own game, he replied: 'To be honest, I don't know. 'There are some differences to Germany but I think there is also something I can learn and make me better so I am really looking forward to it. Advertisement 'It's more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me.'
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
Florian Wirtz talks up early connection with new Liverpool teammate
Both men have only signed for Liverpool this summer but Florian Wirtz is already sounding optimistic about his connection with new teammate Hugo Ekitike. The Premier League champions have spent big this summer, with Wirtz and Ekitike arriving from Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively. The Reds are strengthening from a position of strength after such an impressive last season, with the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez also arriving. Their pre-season friendlies are now at an end, with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace coming up on Saturday and Wirtz is already enjoying life playing with Ekitike. Both arriving from the Bundesliga, the German knew of the Frenchman and is excited to link up with him regularly this season. In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – click here and sign up before Friday to make sure you don't miss the first edition. 'He is a really good player. I enjoyed watching him at Frankfurt and I was really happy that he decided to come to us,' Wirtz told The Times of the 23-year-old. 'In the training sessions already, he went well and also in the game we had some combinations that were good. I am really happy that I can play with him. 'It is good that we have a few players that come at the same time, so we can connect a little bit and talk to each other about how we deal with it. That helps when you come to a new team.' Ekitike and Wirtz started in the second of Liverpool's two games against Athletic Club on Monday which the Reds won 3-2 and will both hope to be starting at Wembley on Saturday. The Frenchman recognised that there is work to be done on the relationship with his new teammates but is already enjoying life on Merseyside. 'Obviously I am here now for more than one week so I'm still trying to find connections with the others in the last passes and even before,' he said. 'I enjoy playing with them, outside of the pitch they are good guys also. So, I take pleasure to play with them. Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen – £29.5m Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen – £100m Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth – £40m Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia – £25m Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt – £69m 'We have some little things to fix to get better. Even me with the ball, I knew I could do better today. But I really enjoy playing with them and I'm sure we're going to make really good things this season.' Ekitike is coming in to play up front with Wirtz behind the front line, but the Germany international says that you can expect to see him popping up all over the place. More Trending 'I think I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch, and the manager gives it to me,' said Wirtz. 'Of course, I have to respect the position and the players around me, but I try to give my best on the pitch and find the right places. I have the freedom for this. 'I came [to Liverpool] because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying playing with these players. Every time it is getting a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going. I'm really enjoying the first weeks.' There could still be more new arrivals at Liverpool this summer, with the club remaining interested in Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. If Isak does arrive in a huge deal, where Ekitike will fit into Slot's plans will be thrown into doubt. MORE: Michael Owen makes Premier League top-four prediction for next season MORE: Arsenal legend Ian Wright sends message to Viktor Gyokeres doubters MORE: Manchester United submit first offer to sign Benjamin Sesko ahead of Newcastle
