Wimbledon umpire steps into Draper match after unwritten rule break – 'No more'
British tennis hopeful Jack Draper experienced a surge of local support at Wimbledon, as the crowd chucked protocol out of the window to back their No. 1. Amid an intense face-off with Marin Cilic following his first-round rout of Sebastian Baez, the home fans couldn't contain their eagerness on Thursday.
In a burst of support for the 23-year-old, the patriotic crowd broke into deafening applause following a violation by the Croatian ace, leading to a telling-off from the umpire. Draper's dream run was ultimately dashed by Cilic, who secured a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 win, yet the British battler will take heart from the fierce loyalty shown courtside.
The SW19 crowd threw caution - and apparently etiquette - to the wind in their bid to rally behind the youngster, especially during moments when Cilic's drawn-out serves tested their patience.
An early hiccup saw the match umpire dish out a time penalty to Cilic amidst the tension-packed third set, sparking wild jubilation among spectators. The Court 1 crowd needed a nudge from the chair to calm down and allow play to proceed seamlessly.
Even BBC commentator Andrew Cotter chimed in during the episode, noting: "The timer [for players to complete a serve between points] did hit zero, but this is a big moment," reports the Express.
While it's an unspoken rule at many sports events, like tennis and golf, for spectators to keep silent about a player's misfortune, some exasperated fans couldn't help but urge the Croatian ace to 'hurry up' with his serve.
The tension escalated when Cilic prepared for his eventual serve, prompting the umpire to make another plea: "Please, please...please guys, no more." This interruption and misconduct led to Cilic's serve being broken for the first time by Draper, who then stormed through the third set.
Fans even vented their frustration on social media about the seasoned tennis pro's antics. One fan grumbled: "Has any one ever bounced the ball before a first serve more than Marin Cilic? Another quipped: "Waiting for Marin Cilic to stop bounce, pause, bounce again and serve at Wimbledon.
While a third chimed in: "F****** hell, Marin Cilic bounces his balls before each serve more often than Djokovic and Nadal could ever have dreamed of." Despite the tide seemingly turning in Draper's favour, Cilic managed to clinch his victory and progress to the third round.
Overwhelmed after his significant win, the 36-year-old expressed: "My emotions are just incredible. To play in front of this crowd and against Jack [Draper] is incredible, so thanks everyone for your great sportsmanship. It has been a long career for me.
"I have been really dedicated on training for my whole life and, of course, huge credit to my team and to everyone who is helping me on this journey. I've spent the last few weeks in the UK enjoying myself, playing through some Challengers and winning matches. I'm just feeling great and hoping I can continue to play well."
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