Wild mix of celebs in Wimbledon royal box blows minds: ‘For the ages’
A star-studded royal box at Wimbledon had everyone asking the same question as the eclectic mix of celebrities stole the spotlight.
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Only at Wimbledon.
The finer points of drumming and 10m platform diving, what it’s like to headline Glastonbury or WrestleMania or how the English football team is faring 12 months out from the World Cup - everything was up for discussion in the Wimbledon royal box overnight Wednesday.
The world’s premier tennis tournament is perhaps the only place on earth you’re likely to see Olympic diving legend Tom Daley, pop star Olivia Rodrigo, football managers Thomas Tuchel and Roy Hodgson, WWE icon John Cena and music royalty Dave Grohl all sitting alongside one another - in a royal box that was described as “one for the ages”.
We’re sure they managed to make small chat but tennis fans around the globe were all asking the same thing - what does this lot have in common?
The answer of course, is a love of tennis - and there were dished up more drama as the early carnage in this year’s edition continued to deliver.
Four of top five women’s seeds gone
Jasmine Paolini was the latest victim of Wimbledon’s spate of giant-killings as last year’s runner-up suffered a shock second-round exit against Russian world number 62 Kamilla Rakhimova on Wednesday.
Just 12 months after her run to the All England Club final, Paolini followed a host of highly-ranked seeds out of the grass-court Grand Slam.
The Italian fourth seed, beaten by Barbora Krejcikova in the 2024 Wimbledon title match, slumped to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss in two hours and 18 minutes on Court Three.
After reaching the French Open and Wimbledon finals last year, Paolini has failed to make the quarter-finals in each of her last four Grand Slam appearances, although she won the Roland Garros doubles crown with partner Sara Errani in June.
The 29-year-old’s defeat against Rakhimova means four of the top five seeds in the women’s singles have been eliminated just three days into the event.
Second seed Coco Gauff, third seed Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen were beaten in the first round.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the last of the top five seeds remaining after her win against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the second round on Wednesday.
“Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament in both draws,” Sabalenka said. “But I know if I’m focused, if I’m fighting, I know I’m going to have my chance in each match. I hope it is no upsets anymore in this tournament, if you know what I mean!”
Alcaraz avoids another headache
Carlos Alcaraz spoiled Oliver Tarvet’s Wimbledon adventure as the defending champion moved into the third round with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over the British amateur.
A record-breaking number of seeds crashed out at the All England Club in the first round and Alcaraz was lucky not to join them after a five-set test of his own against Fabio Fognini.
But he needed only two hours and 17 minutes to subdue world number 733 Tarvet, who produced flashes of his emerging talent to delight the partisan crowd.
Alcaraz has won his past 20 matches since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April, a blistering streak that has brought him titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open and Queen’s Club.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who fought back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner on clay in an epic final at Roland Garros last month, has won 31 of his 34 Tour-level matches on grass.
His last defeat at Wimbledon came against Sinner in the fourth round in 2022. Having vanquished Novak Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz is looking to join an elite group of Wimbledon icons.
The world number two hopes to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win at least three consecutive Wimbledon titles after seven-time champion Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.
In stark contrast to Alcaraz’s fame and fortune, the unheralded Tarvet is just starting his tennis career and cannot even collect all of his Wimbledon prize money.
As a student of the University of San Diego, the 21-year-old has to maintain amateur status and will have to give up most of his earnings.
While Alcaraz is a five-time Grand Slam champion, Tarvet was playing just his second major main draw match after coming through three qualifiers and beating Leandro Riedi in the opening round.
Mixed fortunes for Brits Boulter, Raducanu
Katie Boulter is out of her home grand slam after a 6-7 6-2 6-1 loss to Argentina’s Solona Sierra, the World No. 101 who was a ‘lucky loser’ into Wimbledon.
It’s a disappointing result for Boulter, who has made the third round twice before in 2022 and 2023.
“The lucky loser rides her luck and can you believe it?” Sam Smith said in commentary.
“Extraordinary. Seven days ago, she lost in the qualifying, and here she is in the third round of Wimbledon. I don’t think she’s going to stop smiling.”
Her fiance, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, plays his second round match against France’s Arthur Cazaux on Thursday night (AEST).
Fellow Brit Emma Raducanu booked her place in the third round with a comfortable win over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Naomi Osaka moved through to the third round with a win over Czech Katerina Siniakova, while 13th seed Amanda Anisimova had a 6-4 6-3 victory over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.
Raducanu and Anisimova will match up in a blockbuster third round match — Raducanu won their second round match at the Australian Open.
Aussie wins five-setter
Australia’s Jordan Thompson has won another five-set match to win his second round clash against France’s Benjamin Bonzi 7-5 6-7 4-6 6-2 6-4.
Thompson went the distance in his first round too — five of his seven Wimbledon wins have come in five sets.
American Taylor Fritz also claimed back-to-back five set wins to move into the third round.
The fifth seed bloodied his arm when diving for a ball, but he recovered to beat Canada’s Gabriel Dallo 3-6 6-3 7-6 4-6 6-3.
- with AFP
Originally published as Wild mix of celebs in Wimbledon royal box blows minds: ‘For the ages’
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