Fans camp out in Wimbledon ticket queue over ‘mini-festival' weekend
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Wales Online
36 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Former British No.1 tennis player banned from Wimbledon grounds
Former British No.1 tennis player banned from Wimbledon grounds Christopher 'Buster' Mottram was Britain's leading male player in the late 1970s and early 80s, but has been barred from Wimbledon since 2023 following 'misdemeanours' Buster Mottram, pictured during his tennis career, has been banned by Wimbledon (Image: MSI ) A divisive former tennis star has reportedly been excluded from Wimbledon. Christopher Mottram, known widely as 'Buster', was Britain's leading male player in the late 1970s and early 80s as well as representing his country in the Davis Cup. However, he has been barred from SW19 since 2023, fellow former British tennis star Roger Taylor has revealed. Taylor made the claim in his recently-released book, The Man Who Saved Wimbledon, per the Daily Mail's Eden Confidential column. Now 70, Mottram was seen as a controversial figure. He once wrote a letter in support of then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher during her battles with the trade unions in the 80s, even signing it on behalf of the Davis Cup team, which left the tennis authorities fuming. Additionally, he faced allegations of racism due to his backing of Enoch Powell, a far-right politician notorious for his 'Rivers of Blood' speech about mass immigration in the late-60s. Taylor, 83, wrote: "His antics and beliefs saw him frozen out by the establishment. He never became a permanent member of the All England Club which, for player with his record, would usually be guaranteed. In 2023, following further misdemeanours, he was banned from the place altogether." Article continues below Mottram is said to be no longer welcome at SW19 (Image:) When approached for comment, a Wimbledon spokesperson said: "I'm afraid we don't comment on our membership." Mottram has been left feeling despondent by his expulsion, although Taylor attributed the ban primarily to his own conduct. He wrote: "Buster spent more time there than just about anyone else and it's been very sad to watch his decline and exclusion, even if much of it has been down to his own failings." In his heyday, Mottram soared to 15th in the world rankings in 1978 and 1983, with his most notable Wimbledon achievement being reaching the fourth round in 1982. He made it to the fourth round at both the French Open and the US Open as well. He was also a member of the British Davis Cup team that was runner-up to the United States in 1978. A young Mottram in action (Image: Getty ) Mottram abruptly hung up his racket in 1983, blaming the continuous "hassle" of participating in year-round tournaments. He later ventured into right-wing politics but found himself ejected from UKIP for fraternising with the British National Party (BNP) and its leader Nick Griffin. After attempting to broker a pact between UKIP and the BNP, Mottram was ejected from the party, then under Nigel Farage's leadership. Farage said at the time: "There are no circumstances, no possible situations, in which we would even consider doing any type of deal with the BNP whatsoever. "I'm simply amazed that the BNP thought we would even consider such a thing, given that we are a non-racist, non-sectarian party." Article continues below Griffin had entertained hopes of forming an agreement to prevent BNP and UKIP candidates from competing against one another in the forthcoming European elections.
San Francisco Chronicle
39 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Coco Gauff is disappointed by her Wimbledon loss but doesn't want to dwell on it
LONDON (AP) — Before Wimbledon began, Coco Gauff reflected on the significance of her breakthrough performance at the place six years ago — a run to the fourth round at age 15 — and what aspirations she harbored as she prepared to return. 'Even when I see videos of me during that time, it just doesn't feel like it's me. It felt like a dream. I'll always have special memories from that run and, I guess, it definitely fueled the belief that I can be on tour and live out my dream,' she told The Associated Press. 'It's something that always holds a special place in my heart. Obviously, I would love to win this tournament just for it to be like a full-circle moment,' she continued. 'I feel like it would be like the start of the dream, and — I don't want to say 'the finish,' because I obviously have a lot of career left, but — a full-circle type of situation.' A week after that conversation, the No. 2-ranked Gauff was out of the bracket at the All England Club in the first round with a 7-6 (3), 6-1 loss to unseeded Dayana Yastremska at No. 1 Court on Tuesday night. Gauff was undone by serving troubles, including nine double-faults, and more than two dozen unforced errors in all, not to mention Yastremska's hard, flat groundstrokes. It was an abrupt, and mistake-filled, exit for Gauff, who so recently earned her second Grand Slam title — at the French Open via a three-set victory over No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. After Tuesday's defeat, Gauff said, 'I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don't like losing. The main thing I'm sure my team and everyone is going to tell me (is): 'You did well at Roland-Garros. Don't be so upset.' Things like that.' But as much as she'll want to move on and focus on what's to come, the 21-year-old American acknowledged as she dabbed away the tears welling in her eyes during her news conference that she felt 'a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today.' It's instructive to remember — setting aside that captivating 2019 debut, which featured a victory over Venus Williams — that Wimbledon's grass courts actually have produced Gauff's least successful Grand Slam results. Yastremska's take? She said she considers Gauff 'much better on clay court and hard court than on grass.' This was the second time in the past three years that she was sent home in the opening round. She's never been past the fourth round at the All England Club, whereas at every other major tournament, including the hard-court Australian Open, she's at least reached the semifinals. Her first Slam trophy arrived on the hard courts of the U.S. Open in 2023 when she was 19. She already was the 2022 runner-up on the red clay at the French Open before going one step better this time. Sabalenka's self-described 'unprofessional' comments after last month's title match in Paris became a real topic of conversation and, perhaps, a distraction. Gauff and Sabalenka sought to put it behind them — and tell fans they should, too — by filming TikTok videos together once they got to Wimbledon. 'I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,' Gauff said, 'so I didn't feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it.' It's not easy to manage the tricky transition from the Roland-Garros clay to the Wimbledon grass. There's a reason it's been a decade since a woman won both in the same season — and a reason that woman was Serena Williams. By the end of the night, Gauff was eager to look ahead to the upcoming North American hard-court circuit, culminating with a trip to New York in late August. 'I mean, obviously I'm not going to dwell on this too long, because I want to do well at the U.S. Open. Maybe losing here (in the) first round isn't the worst thing in the world,' she said, 'because I have time to reset.'
Metro
41 minutes ago
- Metro
Throwing a Wimbledon party? Then you need this tennis-themed homeware to match
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Wimbledon is underway, and for those who haven't got a ticket to sit courtside, you do not have to miss out on strawberries and cream or Pimms. In fact, numerous tennis fans are throwing their own Wimbledon party. A Wimbledon party could be indoors or al fresco, but the key to acing the screening event is themed homeware. Now we don't necessarily mean faces on cakes and bunting, though it wouldn't be out of place. But strawberry printed cushions or crockery, tennis printed decor, as well as citrus-coloured accessories. Yes, a projector is a worthy investment to showcase the matches on, but it's the finishing touches that are the real pièce de résistance. We have whittled down the best homeware essentials for your lowkey Wimbledon Championship viewing party, or the doubles extravaganza bash. Strawberries and cream are the popular food choice at Wimbledon, so it makes sense to have a textured cushion with strawberries embroidered on it. This plus square design is ideal to use as a scatter cushion on your sofa, or for added comfort when sitting on a picnic blanket. BUY NOW FOR £10 Whether you are using tea towels to get your baked goods out of the oven safely, or to lay plates of snacks on the table, this three-pack is an affordable purchase. The set includes a plain red tea towel, striped print and strawberry patterned tea towel. Buy Now for £5.50 This is really taking the Wimbledon theme to the extreme, as the soap features a silhouette of different sporting activities – including tennis. Pop one in the bathroom, and kitchen. The 3D soap is vegan and fragranced with organic lavender essential oil. BUY NOW FOR £7.50 We never seem to have enough vases, and we certainly don't have playful designs that fit the Wimbledon vase gives the illusion of stacked strawberries perched on top of one another. While one will work as a centrepiece, considering the price we're tempted to purchase more to scatter along the table for an OTT tablescape. BUY NOW FOR £3.99 Whether you are changing the interiors of your home for the next few weeks of Wimbledon, or you are looking for added decoration to your outdoor screening party, you can't go wrong with an artsy print. BUY NOW FOR £15.95 You've made a Pimm's for guests to drink and now you need appropriate beakers to slurp it from. BUY NOW FOR £3 You've invested in tea towels but napkins are another adorable set includes one design that features tennis rackets printed all over, while the other is a tennis player on the court ready to take a swing. BUY NOW FOR £19.99 If you are heading to a picnic, a live screening, or to Henman's Hill to watch the finals you will need a reliable tote bag to house your picky bits. BUY NOW FOR £75 This two-pack of candles are perfect for day or evening hosting, and a simple touch to elevate your Wimbledon tablescape. Buy Now for £9.52 If you are looking to inject a subtle Wimbledon touch to your home and garden, or you are willing to go out, this bunting can help to achieve both. The on brand purple and green flags are emblazoned with tennis rackets and tennis balls, which are not too garish. BUY NOW FOR £12.99 If you are one who appreciates finer details then these Tennis Drink Tags are a must buy. Simply prop them on the rim of your champagne flute or coupe for guests to swoon over. Select from a racket, neon tennis ball or wavy sign that can be engraved. BUY NOW FOR £2.30 Could there be anything more adorable? While the set is designed to house a large scoop (or two) of ice cream, it can also contain other snacks too. BUY NOW FOR £55 You can never have too many cushions when guests come over, especially if you're sitting outside for the day. Add to your scatter cushion collection with these tennis embroidered cushions, which are really on the nose for any Wimbledon events you're hosting. BUY NOW FOR £79 Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: What to wear to Wimbledon 2025 – from dresses, suits and stylish co-ords to watch courtside MORE: Nobody's Child now has a whole page dedicated to dresses with pockets MORE: Western fashion is back – these are the pieces to nail cowgirl chic this summer
