Latest news with #Skupski
South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Skupski backing British doubles stars to secure Wimbledon success
The Liverpool ace, 35, and Joe Salisbury lost a tight quarter-final battle against fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos on Wednesday. The British duo went down in a pair of tie-breaks as a 7-6(6) 7-6(3) defeat dashed Skupski's hopes of a second men's doubles title in SW19. Salisbury will now turn his attention to a mixed doubles final alongside Luisa Stefani today, while in the men's draw, both Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool navigated their way to the semi-finals with a thrilling three-set triumph against defending champions Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara. Skupski, who lost his mixed doubles quarter-final alongside Desirae Krawczyk on Monday, will travel back to Liverpool this morning but is relishing the prospect of supporting the British home favourites from afar. 'Of course – I'll be home in the morning, but I'll be watching up in Liverpool!' said Skupski, a three-time Wimbledon champion across men's and mixed doubles. 'I'll watch Joe on the TV and the other British boys – I can put my feet up while Joe focuses on his final. 'I'll get the British flag out and cheer for the lads! 'It was close today – there wasn't much in it, we played a good match and everyone served very well. We didn't give many chances away. 'That's good grass court doubles, with everyone playing a high level.' Sixth seeds Skupski and Salisbury, a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion, beat fellow British pair Josh Paris and Charles Broom in their opening encounter at the All England Club. Two more victories followed but a date against experienced operators Granollers, 39, and Zeballos, 40, proved a step too far. They were pushed all the way in front of a partisan Court 3 crowd but were unable to advance to the semi-finals and keep Skupski's hopes of emulating his 2023 triumph alongside Wesley Koolhof here alive. 'When you get chances you've got to take them, but those boys are obviously very experienced,' added Skupski. 'It's disappointing – I'll go over the match to see where we can improve. 'It's sad to be leaving at the quarter-final stage, but we'll reevaluate and be back next year.' Looking ahead to his mixed doubles final, Salisbury, 33, said: 'It was a bit of a surprise getting to the final as it was a bit of a last-minute partnership. 'But it's great be in the final playing for a Wimbledon title.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.
South Wales Guardian
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Liverpool fan Skupski suffers double devastation at Wimbledon
The Merseyside tennis star, 35, advanced to the second round of the men's doubles at Wimbledon on a day marred by both tragedy and personal loss. That morning, the sporting world had been rocked by the news that Diogo Jota had tragically died in a car crash aged just 28 in Spain. And moments after leaving the court following his gruelling three-set triumph alongside compatriot Joe Salisbury, the 2023 champion discovered his grandmother Mary had also passed away earlier in the day. Skupski, a three-time SW19 champion across men's and mixed doubles, is an avid Liverpool supporter who met Jurgen Klopp and his players at the training ground several years ago. And speaking emotionally to media late last night after his 6-3 5-7 6-4 win over compatriots Josh Paris and Charles Broom, he said: 'I found out this morning, and now I've just found out my nan's passed away as well, so it's been a very tough day. 'It was strange this morning – you're on Twitter seeing a headline in Spanish, not know what it is and think: has he actually really died? 'You never think your heroes, sportsmen or people you look up to are invincible, but it shows that everyone is human, things come at you and you just don't know what's around the corner. 'It was really tough to take – it was him and his brother so it's the whole family – my condolences go out to them. 'It's heartbreak for them at the moment – the more privacy they get the better. 'I met the whole team, he was there and lovely – I spoke to people today and they say he was not just an amazing footballer but an amazing, incredible person. 'He was so down to earth, so nice and someone that kept the whole dressing room together to make it run smoothly. It's going to be a big loss for Liverpool and I'm sure they'll do something in his memory.' Speaking about his nan, who died aged 98, Skupski add: 'She was a fighter – she was ill for a little bit of time, so it's a tough time to find out in the middle of Wimbledon. 'But she'd want me to be here and be proud of me fighting through. It was tough to take coming off court, but I'll be okay. 'She was probably the closest grandparent I had – I'm glad I had a little bit of time as I've known it was coming for a little bit. It's part of life, but a tough one for my family next few days.' Wimbledon sources say players who wish to pay tribute to Jota would be allowed to wear a black armband during their matches. Skupski almost opted to wear one for his first round match on Thursday evening but says he will consider doing so across the rest of the Championships, with a second round clash against Nicolás Barrientos and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli lying in wait. 'I had a black armband – I thought of wearing it but didn't in the end,' he added. 'I didn't want to wear it but maybe in coming days I might.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.
Metro
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Former Wimbledon champion finds out his nan has died after coming off court
British tennis star Neal Skupski found out his grandmother had died shortly after coming off court at Wimbledon. The Liverpool-born player was already coming to terms either the tragic death of footballer Diogo Jota when he learnt of his grandmother's passing. Skupski and men's doubles partner Joe Salisbury advanced to the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday with a 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory over fellow British pair Joshua Paris and Charles Broom. It was a difficult occasion for Skupski, who like the rest of the world was left shocked by the passing of Liverpool star Jota, who died in a car accident at the age of 28. Before his first-round match at the All England Club, the passionate Liverpool supporter posted: 'Tragic news. YNWA.' But the three-time Wimbledon champion was also rocked by the death of his grandmother, which he only learnt about shortly after his first-round match. In a press conference after the match which The i Paper attended, the three-time Wimbledon champion said: 'It's been a tough day for Liverpool fans. 'I found out this morning that Jota had passed away and then I've just found out my nan has just passed away, so it's been a very tough day.' Skupski described his grandmother Mary, 98, as a 'fighter' and insists she would have wanted him to give his all in his pursuit of a fourth Wimbledon title. 'Obviously I've only just found out, but walking onto the tennis court is only going to help me take my mind off it,' he said. 'It's something she'd have wanted me to do. I'll just go out on court and try and enjoy it as much as possible, not worry too much if I'm missing too many shots, there's more to life than missing a tennis shot. 'I'm glad I've had time to know it was coming, rather than just 'Boom' and she's died out of the blue. I've been able to come to terms she was coming to an end. 'It's part of life, it will be a tough one for my family tonight and the next few days but she would want me to be here. She'd be proud of me for what happened today, fighting through. 'What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not. 'All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. 'My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss. 'My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football. 'My condolences go to Diogo's wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva. 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten. 'His name is Diogo.' 'It's Wimbledon now, it's my job. Being with Joe, it's something that she'd have wanted me to do, to fight. We're here, we want to win the whole thing but one match at a time.' Reports of Jota's death first emerged in Spain before confirmation of his tragic passing came in the form of statements from the Spanish authorities and Liverpool Football Club. 'You never think your heroes or sportsmen or people that you look up to… they're like invincible,' added Skupski, who was invited to Liverpool's training centre in 2023 after winning Wimbledon. 'It just shows that everyone's human. Things come at you and you just don't know what's around the corner. 'I met the whole team. I've spoke to some people today who are connected to Liverpool and they basically say he's not just an amazing footballer, but the person he was, he was incredible, so down to earth, very nice. 'A great finisher but also someone that kept the whole dressing room together. It's going to be a big loss, I'm sure they'll do something in his memory.' More Trending Skupski won the men's doubles title at Wimbledon in 2023 and the mixed doubles title in 2021 and 2022. He and his current doubles partner Salisbury were beaten in the final of last month's French Open. They continue their 2025 Wimbledon campaign with their second-round match on Saturday. Wimbledon has relaxed its strict all-white dress code to allow players to wear black armbands in tribute to Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who also died in the crash. Portuguese player Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon on his shirt during his men's first-round doubles match on Friday. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: I love the Wimbledon queue almost as much as the tennis MORE: Martina Navratilova names Wimbledon 'favourite' ranked outside the world top 10 MORE: TV fans all say the same thing as the soaps are taken off air
ITV News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Liverpool tennis star Skupski told of grandmother's death moments after Wimbeldon win
Liverpool tennis star Neal Skupski has revealed he was told of his grandmother's death just moments after coming off court from his first-round doubles win at Wimbledon. 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."
Scottish Sun
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Brit Wimbledon star Neal Skupski, 35, finds out his grandmother has died just minutes after leaving court
Liverpool fan's family bereavement came on same day as Diogo Jota death 'TOUGH DAY' Brit Wimbledon star Neal Skupski, 35, finds out his grandmother has died just minutes after leaving court Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEAL SKUPSKI found out his beloved grandmother died minutes after his opening Wimbledon win. Britain's leading doubles star, 35, and partner Joe Salisbury fought hard to beat fellow Brits Joshua Paris and Charles Broom 6-3 5-7 6-4 in round one of the men's doubles competition. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Neal Skupski won at Wimbledon on Thursday before finding out about his grandmother's passing Credit: Getty Once he stepped off Court 8, the bad news was relayed to him by close family members that his 98-year-old granny Mary – who had been ill for a while and was in hospital – had passed away. It had already been a difficult day for Skupski, a big Liverpool fan, given the tragic death of Diogo Jota. Skupski, 2023 Wimbledon men's doubles champion, said: 'I have just found out that my nan passed today. So, it has been a very tough day. 'I found out once I came off court. About 30 minutes ago. She was 98. She was a fighter. Had been ill for a little bit of time. 'She didn't die out of the blue. I have been able to come to terms with it. She was coming to the end. It's part of life. It will be a tough few days for my family. 'We had known it was a matter of time for a few days now. It was tough to find out when I'd come off court. But I will be okay. 'She would want me to be here. She would be proud of what happened and how we fought. 'Maybe my mood has changed a bit coming up to these Championships. I'm probably quite bubbly on the practice courts, with good energy. 'Maybe the team had thought and seen I was not myself. People like my brother and coach, he spoke to some of the coaches, he maybe told them the situation. It's Wimbledon now, it's my job. 'She would have wanted me to have fought. We are here and want to win the whole thing. Being on the court will take my mind off it. Jack Draper out of Wimbledon as No4 seed is stunned by veteran former finalist Marin Cilic, 36, in shock early exit 'My nan was a massive supporter of me. I spent the most time growing up with her. She was the closest grandparent I had.' On Thursday, the All England Club announced it would relax its strict all-white rules in light of the Jota tragedy so people could wear black armbands in tribute. Skupski – who had been to the Liverpool training HQ and even played padel there – is considering donning one for his next appearance. The three-time Wimbledon doubles champion said: 'It's been a tough day for Liverpool fans. I found out this morning that Jota had passed away. 'A bit strange this morning. You're on Twitter and see a headline about Jota in Spanish. But it's along the lines of 'accident' and it's in black-and-white. 'Has he actually died? You think your heroes or sportsmen or people you look up to, they're invincible. 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 'It shows everyone's human. Things come at you. You don't know what is around the corner. 'It was really tough to take. Him and his brother. A tough one for his whole family. He got married a few weeks ago. He has three kids. 'My condolences go out to his family. It must be heartbreaking for them at the moment. The more privacy they get the better. 'When I was at Liverpool, I met the whole team. Diogo was there. I spoke to some people today who are connected to Liverpool and they say, not only was he an amazing footballer, but he was so down-to-earth. 'A great finisher. But also someone who kept the whole dressing room together, making it run so smoothly. 'It will be a big loss for Liverpool. I am sure they will do something in their memory.'
