COURT REPORT: It was a long day for Australian battler Matthew Ebden, who won a five-set epic in the men’s doubles semi-finals before switching to Centre Court and missing out on the mixed title
- Australian Matthew Ebden played two matches in the doubles at Wimbledon
- He won the men’s semis before losing the mixed doubles final on Centre Court
- Court 14 was a strange choice for the all-British wheelchair quarter-finals
- K-Swiss have British No 1 Cameron Norrie tied down on a contract until 2024
- Wimbledon is asking fans to vote for their favourite Centre Court moment
It was a long day for Matthew Ebden. The Australian was out on No 1 Court at 1pm for his men’s doubles semi-final, which went to five sets and lasted longer than four hours.
Later in the evening, Ebden was on Centre Court for the mixed doubles final.
He lost that match with fellow Aussie Sam Stosur, suffering a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Britain’s Neal Skupski and American Desirae Krawczyk.
Australian Matthew Ebden (pictured, right) featured in two different games at Wimbledon
Court 14 was a strange choice for the all-British quarter-final between Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett in the men’s wheelchair singles – and not only because Wimbledon’s accessibility guide states there is ‘limited’ space for wheelchair users who might have wished to watch this match.
The cramped Court 14 can only fit 318 spectators and that meant there were queues outside.
Whereas No 3 Court (capacity of 1,980) started with a ladies’ invitational doubles match while Court 12 (1,736) and Court 18 (782) staged two boys’ singles ties – none of them involving any Brits.
Court 14 was a strange choice for all-British quarter-final of Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett
Timing is vital in tennis and K-Swiss haven’t done too badly in that department.
While Nike sponsor Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal and Lacoste have Novak Djokovic, the lesser-known Los Angeles-based brand snapped up Cameron Norrie in January 2020 and handily have him tied down until 2024, it is understood.
K-Swiss snapped up Cameron Norrie (pictured) in 2020 and have tied him down until 2024
All eyes were on No 10 on Thursday lunchtime – Court 10, that is, not Downing Street – as Rafael Nadal’s team had booked a practice session there.
Yet as 12.30pm arrived, there was no sign of the Spaniard, much to the disappointment of grounds-pass holders who were hoping for a glimpse of the semi-finalist.
Nadal’s hour slot ended without him ever turning up. Later he was spotted on the secluded Aorangi Park practice courts, perhaps opting for privacy to avoid any questions on his fitness.
All eyes were on court No 10, as Rafael Nadal’s team had booked a practice session there
Wimbledon is asking fans to vote for their favourite Centre Court moment and winning with more than 50 per cent is Andy Murray’s straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 final.
The next nearest competition for Murray is Murray himself, because his gold medal at London’s 2012 Olympics is currently on 13 per cent.
The fewest votes seem to have gone to the streaker who invaded Centre Court in 1996.
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