As the sun slowly set on the first day of the Wimbledon qualifying event this week, a small crowd enveloped the final match, between the 17-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner and Australia’s Alex Bolt. The match was every bit as spectacular as some of those in the main draw will be, ending 12-10 to Bolt in the third and final set after a stream of winners.
There was one curiosity. During every change of ends, an older spectator trespassed on to the vacant neighbouring court and threw a tennis ball up over his head 15 to 20 times, perfecting a ball toss in the middle of a professional sporting event. Some fans pointed and chuckled among themselves, but many barely noticed. Here, it was almost normal.
Written by Tumaini Carayol at Roehampton
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/27/tennis-roehampton-despised-by-players-loved-by-fans under the title “Roehampton qualifying a world away from Wimbledon but oh so close | Tumaini Carayol”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
