Wimbledon 2022: Wimbledon residents don’t want drunk tennis fans’ anti-social behaviour

Tennis is back at Wimbledon and locals are furious with some on a crusade to shame randy fans from getting down and dirty in public.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns the ball to Australia's Jordan Thompson during their men's singles first round match on the second day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.

Frisky tennis fans have been warned by Wimbledon’s posh locals that the return of full crowds to the world’s famous tennis tournament is no excuse to get down and dirty.

For years, wealthy local residents have been complaining about the steamy parties that take place during the championships when play on court ends and the sun goes down.

The Daily Star is reporting that locals are so fed up at stumbling across randy couples having sex in the parks and woods around Wimbledon, they are pinning signs around the town, warning horny fans to keep their clothes on.

The British tabloid published a picture of one of the notes found near the entrance to a car park, which included a threat to call in the cops if there’s a repeat of the lewd antics from previous years.

Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

“Game, Sex, and Match. NO THANKS! Visiting tennis fans please respect our park and woodland. Anti-social behaviour such as drugs, booze and sex parties will not be tolerated. Police patrol this area regularly and you have been warned. Thanks for your consideration. Enjoy the tennis!”

The caution from unaroused locals is in stark contrast to all the hotel, restaurant and bar owners in south west London, who are cock-a-hoop at the return of big-spending fans kicking up their heels after a day at the tennis.

Residents who live near #Wimbledon warn tennis fans against 'Drugs, Booze and Sex Parties'

"Game, Sex, and Match. NO THANKS!"https://t.co/WoElM5Ry7u

— OutKick (@Outkick) June 26, 2022

Even though any patrons who get rolling drunk are escorted from the Wimbledon grounds by security, the amount of alcohol drunk each year could almost fill an Olympic swimming pool.

The exact amount is unknown because visitors are allowed to bring in their own supplies but the sales figures are eye-watering enough.

As well as gallons of beer and wine, the club also offers a wide variety of cocktails and spirits.

Organisers expect to sell more than 29,000 bottles of champagne this year as well as more than 275,000 glasses of Pimms and Lemonade - one of Wimbledon’s signature drinks, that locals say is a favourite of the late night doubles pairings.

An unnamed resident told the Daily Star all the heavy drinking during the day was causing problems at night.

“I’ve seen couples having sex, drugs parties, everything really,” the resident said.

“With so many fans camping in the park it turns into a big party after dark and people just get carried away especially if they’ve been knocking back the Pimm’s all day.

“We’ve put notices up in the past, but they just get ripped down. Hopefully, the police will step up their patrols this year and kick out anyone they catch wanting a love match.”

Novak doubles down on Russia ban as ex-stars on front line

It’s been nine years since Sergiy Stakhovsky stunned Roger Federer at Wimbledon in a Centre Court seismic shock.

This weekend Stakhovsky is 2,500km away from London, dressed in fatigues rather than tennis whites.

The 36-year-old is armed, desperately fighting to hold back Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This used to be us.... Now this is our @Wimbledon .... Last night 62 rockets were launched to attack different cities in Ukraine.. #stoprussia #boycottrussia #helpukraine @TheDolgo,” tweeted Stakhovsky.

This used to be us…. Now this is our @Wimbledon …. Last night 62 rockets were launched to attack different cities in Ukraine.. #stoprussia#boycottrussia#helpukraine@TheDolgo 🇺🇦✊🏻 pic.twitter.com/dbTLuDRvAg

— Sergiy Stakhovsky (@Stako_tennis) June 25, 2022

Stakhovsky is seen shaking hands with Federer after his 2013 victory in his post to social media.

Also pictured is Ukrainian compatriot Alexandr Dolgopolov after his match against Federer at Wimbledon in 2017.

Both men are retired from tennis; both are now in the military.

Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, has banned all Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s tournament.

That ruled out men’s world number one Daniil Medvedev and eighth-ranked Andrey Rublev.

On the women’s side, three of the top 20 are missing — Aryna Sabalenka, Daria Kasatkina and two-time major winner and former number one Victoria Azarenka.

Stakhovsky wants Russians banned from all sports.

However, six-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic believes that would be a step too far.

Novak Djokovic doesn’t agreee with Wimbledon’s Russia ban. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

“I just don’t see how they have contributed to anything that is really happening. I don’t feel it’s fair,” said Djokovic, adding that Russian and Belarusians be allowed to play under neutral flags.

That’s what happens in the week-in, week-out ATP and WTA tours. When Wimbledon announced its ban, the two tours retaliated by stripping the tournament of ranking points.

“In terms of the response from the ATP, I didn’t really agree with it. I just don’t see who it helps,” said two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

“All the players have still showed up to play here, so I don’t see how it puts the ATP in a stronger position moving forwards.”

In a further move, Wimbledon said it will provide tournament tickets to Ukrainian refugees living in the local areas of south-west London.

All England Club officials will also donate £250,000 (290,000 euros/$306,000) to the refugees’ charity.

That humanitarian gesture, however, hasn’t softened Nick Kyrgios’ belief that the ban was ill-advised.

“I don’t think it was a good idea to ban the Russian players. Medvedev is the best we have in our sport right now,” said the Australian player.

“Whenever we have cameras on and a lot of people tuning in, you want our best players to be on showcase for the sport to grow.

“I’m disappointed they’re not here. It’s weird not seeing Medvedev here.” US superstar Serena Williams opted to sidestep the controversy. “Another heavy subject that involves a tremendous amount of politics, from what I understand, and government. I’m going to step away from that,” said the seven-time Wimbledon champion.

Despite the official ban, there are still plenty of Russian-born players taking part at Wimbledon.

Alexander Bublik was born in Gatchina and Mikhail Kukushkin hails from Volgograd but they represent Kazakhstan.

Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina also play for Kazakhstan despite being born in Moscow.

One player has got round the Russia-Belarus ban with a last-minute switch. Moscow-born Natela Dzalamidze, a 29-year-old doubles player, last week changed her nationality from Russian to Georgian and will compete in the women’s doubles at Wimbledon with Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic.

Wimbledon draw: Hometown hero Kygrios’ first obstacle

— Julian Linden

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has avoided an early meeting with either Novak Djokovic or Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon in a massive boost to his chances of making a serious run at the title.

The unseeded Aussie has all the tools to go deep in the tournament if he just gets a bit of luck and the tennis gods have answered his wish at the official draw.

Currently ranked 40th in the world, his first round opponent is British wildcard Paul Jubb followed by a likely second round meeting with Croatian 26th seed Filip Krajinovic.

Nick Kyrgios will take on British wildcard entrant Paul Jubb in the opening round. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

He could face Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round but will fancy his chances after knocking him over at Halle last week.

The earliest he could meet Nadal is in the semi-finals while he couldn’t face Djokovic until the final because they are on opposite sides of the draw.

However, Kyrgios’ doubles partner and good mate Thanasi Kokkinakis could find himself on the other side of the net to Djokovic in round two if he gets past Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.

Desperate to win after falling two titles behind Nadal in the all-time grand slam record chase, Djokovic is the early favourite for the men’s singles title after getting a good draw, starting with South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon.

Nadal, who has won the first two grand slams this year, will kick off against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina but has a more difficult path ahead of him even without the world No. 1, Russian Daniil Medvedev, who has been banned from playing because of the war in Ukraine..

With Ash Barty now retired, Australia’s highest ranked female player is Ajla Tomljanovic, who is 45th in the world. Her first round opponent is Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann.

There are six Australians in the women’s singles and nine in the men’s, including three facing Brits first up.

In addition to Kyrgios playing Jubb, James Duckworth will take on two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray while Jason Kubler faces Dan Evans.

Australia's James Duckworth will take on crowd favourite Andy Murray.

Serena Williams — given a wildcard to play her first match in a year — will take on unseeded Frenchwoman Harmony Tan in the first round of the women’s singles as she chases her elusive 24th grand slam title to tie Australia’s Margaret Court.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion dropped to 1204th in the world rankings and is unseeded for the tournament.

The 40-year-old, who took part in the doubles tournament in Eastbourne this week, has not played singles since she suffered an injury during her first-round match at Wimbledon 12 months ago Tan, 24, is ranked 113rd in the world.

Top seed Iga Swiatek, who won the French Open earlier this month, opens her campaign against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.

Poland’s Swiatek, 21, has won 35 consecutive matches leading into Wimbledon. Williams’s preparations for Wimbledon suffered a blow after her doubles partner Ons Jabeur withdrew from the Eastbourne tournament because of a knee injury on Thursday.

The American won the last of her seven Wimbledon singles titles in 2016 but reached the final in 2018 and 2019 after returning from having a baby.

Wimbledon is widely considered Williams’s best chance of claiming a 24th Grand Slam singles crown to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record.

The last of the her Grand Slam singles titles came at the Australian Open in 2017.

Speaking after Wednesday’s doubles match, Williams had said: “I feel good. As good as one can feel after having such a long time off.”