Bad behaviour and ball boys: it's Wimbledon time... but what really happens in the locker room?
It will be interesting to see how the royals play it this year. The Princess of Wales will be there; as a Middleton she was already a paid-up Wimbledon nut and now she has been given trophy awarding privileges in her role as president of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, there will be no stopping her. Though the Duke of Kent, who she replaced in 2023, was said to be mournful at his usurping, he took it with predictably good and sporting grace. One royal unlikely to be there is the Duchess of Sussex. Although the tournament should hold some fond memories, it was in the Ralph Lauren VIP enclosure in 2016 that the fateful plan to set her up with Prince Harry was hatched between her and the King's goddaughter, Violet Von Westenholz. More recent years have been less of a success. When the Duchess attended in 2019 (six months before Megxit) she was not allowed into the Royal Box because she was wearing jeans. She also put the nose of other Wimbledoners out of joint when she got her security guards to stop them taking pictures. Former world champion Sally Jones said at the time: 'There were around two hundred photographers snapping away at her but security were sent to warn an old biddy like me. It makes them look silly. It's childish and takes us for fools.'
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Scottish Sun
30 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Wimbledon star, 31, cleaned boats and delivered flyers because he didn't want to step foot on a tennis court
AUSTRALIA has always had a love affair with Wimbledon. The likes of Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe and Evonne Goolagong all reigned at the All England Club. 8 Chris O'Connell's tennis career has not been as exciting as some of his Australian compatriots Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Pat Cash lifted the Wimbledon title in 1987 Credit: PA 8 The Sydney star loves surfing, art and sushi Credit: Pat Cash won the hearts of the British public with his win in 1987 while Lleyton Hewitt was the champion in 2002. Add in the Woodies - Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge - teamed up to claim six doubles crowns together. Then in recent times Ash Barty and doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell have secured their names in Wimbledon history. Nick Kyrgios reached the 2022 final while Alex De Minaur is a former quarter-finalist - plus engaged to British star Katie Boulter. READ MORE ON TENNIS ARE THEY COURTING? Emma Raducanu enjoys series of cosy days out with fellow tennis ace So it is easy to see why Chris O'Connell slips under the radar among Australian tennis names. After all, the 31-year-old has reached a career-high ranking of No53, pocketing £2.5million in prize money and never been beyond round three in a major. He reached that stage at the 2022 Australian Open, 2023 Wimbledon and 2024 US Open. But while his tennis story is really rather ordinary, his life away from the court is anything but - with stint cleaning boats and handing out junk mail. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Sydney's O'Connell was raised in the Northern Beaches area of the Emerald City. It means as well as being one of the world's best tennis players, he is also a highly accomplished surfer. Former Wimbledon champion resurfaces in viral ad with Rafael Nadal three years after bombshell retirement Interestingly, though, he supports FA Cup winners Crystal Palace and his favourite subject at school was not PE - but art. And he has certainly had to get creative during his working life with pro tennis far from his only career. Australian No4 O'Connell suffered a back stress fracture in 2012 which sidelined him for 18 months then contracted pneumonia in 2017. But it was knee tendinitis in 2018 that saw him fall out of love with tennis - and he didn't even want to step foot on the court. So rather than go into coaching, O'Connell took up his brother Ben's invitation to clean boats. The Aussie said in 2020: "At that stage, I was thinking that I'm having too many injuries and wanted to get away from tennis. 'I was thinking to coach kids and maybe do clinics, but I didn't want to step on a tennis court anymore. 'I decided to do something completely weird. 'I lived on a little bay in Sydney and my brother Ben was there too. He invited me to come clean boats with him. I think back on times like that when I was working back home, to see where I am now... I can't really believe it Chris O'Connell 'I was thinking, 'Sweet, I don't have to teach anyone to hit a forehand and I can just clean boats and relax.' 'That's what I did for the morning and afternoon and I'd ride my bike down to the bay. I did that from February to June. 'It was terrible money and everyone thought I was crazy because I could get more money coaching. 'It was incredibly frustrating, because I was 23 at the time and life was going so quickly. I felt like I hadn't gotten anything from the game yet and hadn't reached my potential. 'But I always had in the back of my mind that I was going to get back out there once I was healthy and ready. When I decided to come back in 2019, I had a breakthrough year. 'I do think back on times like that when I was working back home, and to see where I am now, I can believe it, but I can't really believe it. I hope to stay here for a lot longer still.' Then in 2023, during his run to the third round at the All England Club, O'Connell revealed boat cleaning was not his only unusual hustle - and he did end up doing a stint teaching others. The self-confessed late bloomer said two years ago: 'This time last year, getting to the top 100 was a huge goal of mine. 'So to be sitting here a year later, looking at top 50, that's awesome. 'All the odd jobs I've worked at. 'Boat cleaning, working in clothes shop, tennis coaching, delivering flyers… I think back on those, and I'm like, 'Wow, now I'm here.'' 8 O'Connell stepped away from tennis due to injury and cleaned boats Credit: PA 8 His best result at Wimbledon was round three in 2023 Credit: Getty 8 The Aussie supports Crystal Palace Credit: X 8 Nick Kyrgios reached the final in 2022 Credit: The Times
Metro
34 minutes ago
- Metro
'I worked at Wimbledon for 40 years - now a machine has taken my job'
Hundreds of line judges have effectively been made redundant after Wimbledon became the latest Grand Slam to adopt electronic line calling. The move, which was described as 'inevitable' by bosses at the All England Club, means this year's Wimbledon will be the first in its 148-year history without line judges. Spectators have become accustomed to seeing line judges surround courts wearing navy jackets, pinstriped shirts and white trousers or skirts. For well over 100 years they have shouted 'out' and 'fault' to assist chair umpires but the sight and sounds of line judges is now a thing of a past at SW19. Line judge Wendy Smith was 'gutted' when she found out about the development, which brought an abrupt end to over 40 years of service to Wimbledon. 'When I heard the tournament was replacing us line judges with electronic line calling, I was gutted,' said Smith, who first worked at Wimbledon in 1982. Smith understands the desire from players and fans for 'consistency' but believes a charming aspect of Wimbledon will be 'lost' now line judges have been ditched. She also bemoaned the fact the decision was not announced until after last year's Championships, depriving line judges of a chance to 'say goodbye'. Speaking to The Guardian, Wendy added: 'I imagine the All England Club has made this decision because the players want the consistency of computerised decisions – though several of them didn't like Hawk-Eye at all when it came in. 'But there's so much that a human line judge does that a computer just can't offer. We certainly keep up tennis's traditions – I think we make the court look fully dressed. 'The time is right for us to move on. 'We absolutely value the commitment that those line umpires have provided to the Championships over many years. 'And we do have a significant number of them coming back in a new role as match assistants, so we're really pleased to have many of them still involved with delivering the championships. 'I think they — and I wouldn't speak for them individually — probably recognise that with the evolution of the technology and the consistent change across many of the other tournaments that this is probably inevitable. 'So I think for many of them they had expected this change to come along and for those that will be joining us for the Championships in the match assistant role obviously they're delighted still to be part of delivering the Championships.' Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club 'And spectators can learn a lot about the game when they can see the discussions between a line judge and the chair umpire. All of that will be lost. 'I'm not saying we never make mistakes – we're human, after all. But we hold ourselves to a very high standard. 'It's sad to think that I won't get to stand on Centre Court again. And I wish they could have told us before last year's tournament so that we'd have a chance to say goodbye. 'I'll always love tennis, but I don't think I could bear to go to Wimbledon now as a spectator. It just wouldn't have the same atmosphere.' After the move was announced, AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton said: 'The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation. 'Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships last year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating. 'For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour. 'We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously. 'Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.' Ahead of Wimbledon 2025, Bolton said the development was 'inevitable' and that is was the 'right time to move on'. The ATP uses electronic line calling across all of its events and the technology is in place for a number of WTA tournaments. Wimbledon is the third Grand Slam to ditch line judges in favour of ELC following the Australian Open, in 2011, and the US Open, in 2022. The French Open still uses line judges and have said they intend to maintain that tradition going forward. 'I think we are right to keep our referees and line judges at Roland Garros,' said Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT). 'The federation wants to keep our referees for as long as we can. I hope we'll be able to maintain it in our tournaments in the future.' More Trending Despite the introduction of ELC technology, there will still be 80 'match assistants' at Wimbledon assigned to matches in every court. They will support the umpires and will resume their role as line judges if the technology goes down. Malgorzata Grzyb, chair of the Association of British Tennis Officials, told BBC Sport: 'There is a bit of sadness of course – it is the end of a tradition at Wimbledon, but it is something we anticipated. 'We have watched the developments in major tennis events around the world – two of the Grand Slam tournaments already use electronic line calling. I think this was inevitable it was going to happen.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Wimbledon 2025: Andy Roddick, Pat Cash and Mats Wilander predict winner MORE: Jonathan David transfer odds: Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and Co up against it in race for Lille striker MORE: Emma Raducanu reveals truth behind Carlos Alcaraz romance rumours
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
Wimbledon star, 31, cleaned boats and delivered flyers because he didn't want to step foot on a tennis court
AUSTRALIA has always had a love affair with Wimbledon. The likes of Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe and Evonne Goolagong all reigned at the All England Club. 8 8 8 Pat Cash won the hearts of the British public with his win in 1987 while Lleyton Hewitt was the champion in 2002. Add in the Woodies - Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge - teamed up to claim six doubles crowns together. Then in recent times Ash Barty and doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell have secured their names in Wimbledon history. Nick Kyrgios reached the 2022 final while Alex De Minaur is a former quarter-finalist - plus engaged to British star Katie Boulter. So it is easy to see why Chris O'Connell slips under the radar among Australian tennis names. After all, the 31-year-old has reached a career-high ranking of No53, pocketing £2.5million in prize money and never been beyond round three in a major. He reached that stage at the 2022 Australian Open, 2023 Wimbledon and 2024 US Open. But while his tennis story is really rather ordinary, his life away from the court is anything but - with stint cleaning boats and handing out junk mail. Sydney's O'Connell was raised in the Northern Beaches area of the Emerald City. It means as well as being one of the world's best tennis players, he is also a highly accomplished surfer. Former Wimbledon champion resurfaces in viral ad with Rafael Nadal three years after bombshell retirement Interestingly, though, he supports FA Cup winners Crystal Palace and his favourite subject at school was not PE - but art. And he has certainly had to get creative during his working life with pro tennis far from his only career. Australian No4 O'Connell suffered a back stress fracture in 2012 which sidelined him for 18 months then contracted pneumonia in 2017. But it was knee tendinitis in 2018 that saw him fall out of love with tennis - and he didn't even want to step foot on the court. So rather than go into coaching, O'Connell took up his brother Ben's invitation to clean boats. The Aussie said in 2020: "At that stage, I was thinking that I'm having too many injuries and wanted to get away from tennis. 'I was thinking to coach kids and maybe do clinics, but I didn't want to step on a tennis court anymore. 'I decided to do something completely weird. 'I lived on a little bay in Sydney and my brother Ben was there too. He invited me to come clean boats with him. I think back on times like that when I was working back home, to see where I am now... I can't really believe it Chris O'Connell 'I was thinking, 'Sweet, I don't have to teach anyone to hit a forehand and I can just clean boats and relax.' 'That's what I did for the morning and afternoon and I'd ride my bike down to the bay. I did that from February to June. 'It was terrible money and everyone thought I was crazy because I could get more money coaching. 'It was incredibly frustrating, because I was 23 at the time and life was going so quickly. I felt like I hadn't gotten anything from the game yet and hadn't reached my potential. 'But I always had in the back of my mind that I was going to get back out there once I was healthy and ready. When I decided to come back in 2019, I had a breakthrough year. 'I do think back on times like that when I was working back home, and to see where I am now, I can believe it, but I can't really believe it. I hope to stay here for a lot longer still.' Then in 2023, during his run to the third round at the All England Club, O'Connell revealed boat cleaning was not his only unusual hustle - and he did end up doing a stint teaching others. The self-confessed late bloomer said two years ago: 'This time last year, getting to the top 100 was a huge goal of mine. 'So to be sitting here a year later, looking at top 50, that's awesome. 'All the odd jobs I've worked at. 'Boat cleaning, working in clothes shop, tennis coaching, delivering flyers… I think back on those, and I'm like, 'Wow, now I'm here.'' 8 8 8 8
