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Wimbledon champion calls out commentator's "disappointing" remarks

<p>Wimbledon tennis champion Barbora Krejcikova has called out a commentator for making "unprofessional" remarks about her live on-air. </p> <p>The Czech player was taking part in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, which was broadcast on the Tennis Channel, when the comments were made by commentator Jon Wertheim.</p> <p>The 28-year-old player took to X to express her disappointment over the comments, writing, “As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary."</p> <p>"This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world. I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media."</p> <p>“These moments distract from the true essence of sport and the dedication all athletes bring to the field."</p> <p>"I love tennis deeply, and I want to see it represented in a way that honours the commitment we make to compete at this level.”</p> <p>Wertheim responded to Krejcikova's posts, apologising for his comments and also explaining what happened. </p> <p>"During a Tennis Channel studio show on Friday, I made some deeply regrettable comments off-air," he said.</p> <p>"I acknowledge them. I apologise for them. I reached out immediately and apologised to the player.</p> <p>"What happened? I joined the show by Zoom. In rehearsal we were shown a graphic of a player who had just competed. It showed her at an angle that exaggerated her forehead."</p> <p>"A few moments later, I was told to frame up my Zoom. I looked at the low camera angle and joked that it made my forehead resemble the photo of the player in question."</p> <p>"Someone in the control room chimed in and I bantered back. Though this was a private rehearsal, this exchange inadvertently and without context made it to live air."</p> <p>"I realise I am not the victim here. It was neither professional nor charitable nor reflective of the person I strive to be. I am accountable. I own this. I am sorry."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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"You guys can't touch me": Djokovic slams Wimbledon crowd

<p>Novak Djokovic has launched into a staggering tirade after emerging from the Wimbledon courts victorious, after claiming the crowd was being "disrespectful" by booing him. </p> <p>The Serbian tennis champ accused the audience after his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Danish player Holger Rune, calling out the behaviour during his winning speech. </p> <p>“To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it,” he said.</p> <p>“And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a goooood night."</p> <p>“Goooood night, goooood night, have a good night,” he continued.</p> <p>The on-court interviewer suggested that the crowd was chanting “Rooooon” and was not in fact booing, but Djokovic was determined. </p> <p>“I’m hoping they were just commenting on Rune and they weren’t disrespecting you,” the courtside interviewer said, as Djokovic responded, “They were, they were, they were, they were.”</p> <p>“I am not accepting it. No, no, no. I know they were cheering for Rune but that’s an excuse to also boo."</p> <p>“Listen, I have been on the tour for more than 20 years."</p> <p>“I know all the tricks. I focus on the respectful people that pay for the ticket, and love tennis and appreciate the players."</p> <p>“I have played in much more hostile environments, trust me ... you guys can’t touch me.”</p> <p>He then headed for the Centre Court exit to initial applause before further chants of "<em>Ruuuuuuune"</em> followed.</p> <p><em>Image credits: ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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Djokovic hit with record fine after Wimbledon loss

<p>Novak Djokovic has been fined a whopping £6,100 ($11,700) for smashing his racquet in frustration against the net post during the men's singles final at Wimbledon.</p> <p>The Serbian player, who suffered a five-set defeat against Carlos Alcaraz, marking his first loss on Centre Court in a decade, was penalised for "racquet abuse" when he was crucially broken in the deciding set.</p> <p>Acknowledging the fine, the world No. 2, who earned $2.3 million as the runner-up, stated, “It was frustration in the moment. He played amazing to break my serve, which was enough to win the fifth set.”</p> <p>The final match garnered a peak audience of 11.3 million viewers on the BBC, representing the highest viewership since Andy Murray's victory in 2016, which attracted 13.3 million viewers.</p> <p>The incident where Djokovic smashed his racquet was not the only time he tested the umpire's patience during the tense final.</p> <p>A fortunate spectator managed to acquire the now iconic broken racquet after the match.</p> <p>Furthermore, Djokovic received a time violation for exceeding the allotted time during his serve in the second set. As a result, the umpire issued a warning for his behaviour.</p> <p>Although never a crowd favourite at SW19, Djokovic faced boos from the Wimbledon audience due to his outburst that resulted in the destruction of his racquet.</p> <p>The £6,100 fine imposed on Djokovic stands as the highest individual fine given during this year's tournament, setting a record in 2023.</p> <p>Similarly, Mirra Andreeva also incurred two fines totalling £6,100 during the tournament.</p> <p>The 16-year-old Russian player struggled to control her temper throughout the event and was observed angrily striking herself during the early rounds.</p> <p>She was eliminated in the round of 16 after unintentionally handing a match point to Maddison Keys.</p> <p>Keys was awarded the point when Andreeva was deemed to have thrown her racquet to the ground after slipping, as confirmed by the umpire.</p> <p>This incident marked the second time Andreeva had been involved in a racquet-related episode, as she had received a warning earlier in the match for tossing her racquet across the grass.</p> <p>After her defeat to Keys, Andreeva declined to shake hands with the umpire.</p> <p>For her conduct in the round of 16, she received two fines of A$5,860 each.</p> <p><em>Image: YouTube</em></p>

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"Embarrassed": Andy Murray's hilarious daughter revelation

<p>It seems that while the world showers him with praise at Wimbledon, UK tennis great Andy Murray's own flesh and blood knows just how to bring him back down to earth.</p> <p>In a pre-Wimbledon press conference, the former champ shared a delightful tale about his seven-year-old daughter, Sophia. Brace yourself for cuteness overload.</p> <p>“My eldest daughter is aware, now, of what I do, but I don’t think she really sees it as a good thing,” he said, according to talkSPORT.</p> <p>“I think she gets more embarrassed by it, to be honest. We went to pick her up from school on Friday, and she will never properly acknowledge me at the school gates or around the other kids at school."</p> <p>Naturally, Andy was baffled by little Sophia's reaction and demanded an explanation later that evening.</p> <p>“I asked her that night, ‘Why wouldn't you give me a hug at school today?’ She said, ‘Because people know you. You’re number 39 in tennis or something!’</p> <p>“She doesn’t see it as a cool thing. It is more embarrassing.”</p> <p>It seems little Sophia doesn't see her dad's tennis prowess as cool or impressive. Quite the opposite. She finds it utterly cringeworthy.</p> <p>To add to the hilarity, Sophia has adopted a rather unconventional approach when referring to her dad in front of her friends. Instead of a simple "dad," she nonchalantly drops the name "Andy Murray" like it's the punchline of a joke.</p> <p>Moving on to more serious matters, Murray faced a monumental challenge in his second-round match against Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas (at least, at the time of writing, it was still going, with the match suspended due to curfew). </p> <p>But let's not forget Murray's triumphant first-round victory over fellow Brit Ryan Peniston. In a display of dominance, he dispatched his compatriot in straight sets, all while being observed by the illustrious Princess of Wales and the legendary Roger Federer from the Royal Box.</p> <p>With his daughter keeping him grounded and his tennis skills on display, Murray is surely experiencing quite the rollercoaster at Wimbledon. Who knows what other humorous anecdotes will come to light during his epic journey? One thing's for certain: Sophia won't let him forget how "embarrassing" he can be, even as a global tennis star.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram / Resurfacing </em></p>

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Roger Federer breaks royal protocol with Kate Middleton

<p dir="ltr">Roger Federer is being scrutinised by royal watchers after an awkward moment with the Princess of Wales was caught on camera at Wimbledon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kate had welcomed Federer and his wife to the Royal Box to watch the match between Elena Rybakina and Shelby Rogers on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was when Federer greeted Kate to a standing ovation in front of the packed crowd, that he had made the controversial mistake of putting his arm around Kate as he said hello.</p> <p dir="ltr">Royal watchers have accused the eight-time Wimbledon champion of breaking royal protocol, as they believed this action caused Kate to “flinch”, and claimed that Federer was “overstepping”.</p> <p dir="ltr">As part of the royal protocol, it is improper for someone to touch a member of the royal family unless they offer their own hand in greeting.</p> <p dir="ltr">This extends to the royal children, who are expected to bow and curtsy to their own parents when in public, which prompted further questions for Federer’s actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite people finding fault in Federer’s actions, the pair of good friends had laughed and enjoyed their time throughout the game.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It did seem that Kate and Roger were getting along pretty well,” <em>Seven News Europe </em>Bureau Chief Hugh Whitfield told <em>Sunrise</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some might say that Roger, overstepped, the mark stepped, across the fault line by putting his arm, around Kate. They’ve known each other for a long time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’ll be questions about whether he broke royal protocol. I think most people were just happy to see them enjoy the day.”</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Wimbledon’s history-making rule change comes into effect

<p dir="ltr">While Wimbledon is widely anticipated for its star-studded tennis line-up and fierce competition, the 2023 tournament is bringing something new to the table - or rather, to the dressing room. </p> <p dir="ltr">Since the tournament’s inception, the rules have required all players to wear white - including but not limited to the likes of bras and underwear - while competing in the prestigious event.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, in the wake of heavy criticism and petition from Wimbledon’s menstruating competitors, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/wimbledon-to-make-key-change-to-all-white-dress-code">the All England Club finally relaxed the strict dress code</a>, allowing for players the opportunity to wear coloured undershorts rather than just white.</p> <p dir="ltr">And while the move was announced in 2022, the 2023 contest will be the first time players - and viewers - experience the update.</p> <p dir="ltr">Most were thrilled with the outcome, and were looking forward to reaping the benefits of the long-awaited update, but some players had their hesitations and weren’t sure if they’d be hopping onboard with the others. </p> <p dir="ltr">As 2022 Wimbledon finalist and Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur told <em>The Mirror</em>, there were “two things” holding her back. </p> <p dir="ltr">“One thing, it’s better definitely not to be paranoid,” she allowed, before noting that “the other thing, everybody will know that you have your period. So I’m not sure which part of it is good.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think I’m going to wear anything,” she revealed. “If all the girls will wear it, I think it will make it better. But I think it’s a great thing that Wimbledon is trying to help women feel more comfortable on the court.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The campaign behind that ‘help’ skyrocketed in 2022 when Judy Murray - tennis coach and mother to Andy and Jamie Murray - declared her support for the cause. </p> <p dir="ltr">She later voiced her support for the update while speaking to <em>CLAY</em>, telling the publication that “it was many years ago that perhaps Wimbledon didn't understand the trauma of women players playing during the period, fearing what might happen if you wear white. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Thank goodness that's changed."</p> <p dir="ltr">And the people in charge had positive words to share on the matter too, with All England Club CEO Sally Bolton releasing a statement that read, "we are committed to supporting the players and listening to their feedback as to how they can perform at their best …</p> <p dir="ltr">"It is our hope that this rule adjustment will help players focus purely on their performance by relieving a potential source of anxiety."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Kate Middleton takes on Roger Federer in astounding match

<p>Undoubtedly one of the best tennis players of all time, Swiss star Roger Federer may have just met his match with the Princess of Wales.</p> <p>While Federer has 20 grand slam titles to his name, the Princess managed to get a shot past the star, which was met with his response, “I think it was on the line. Amazing!”</p> <p>Kate also took the opportunity to grab some coaching advice from the former world No. 1.</p> <p>“Any tips on my serve at the same time would be very helpful,” she asked.</p> <p>However, Federer seemingly had no advice to offer the Princess, responding, “The serve looks good.”</p> <p>The duo were playing a doubles match on No. 3 Court – where Federer won his first match on the way to earning his first Wimbledon title in 2003 – to acknowledge the hard work of ball boys and girls at the tournament.</p> <p>A clip of their encounter surfaced on YouTube and tennis enthusiast Kate is heard saying, “It’s so good to see you, Roger,” before stepping out onto the court ahead of their match.</p> <p>After she got her shot past the tennis legend, who retired from the sport in 2022, Kate gave a celebratory pat on the shoulder to her doubles partner Joel Eboewe, a coach with the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative, which offers free lessons to local children.</p> <p>During their visit earlier in June, the pair accompanied the ball boys and girls in training for the 2023 tournament which commences Monday, 26 June.</p> <p>Federer himself started out as a ball boy in Basel in 1993 at just age 12, but it seemed as though he may have forgotten a thing or two about what goes on beyond playing the game.</p> <p>As tennis balls bounced around at his feet, Federer – with an estimated net worth of $820 million – asked, “Is that supposed to be me picking them up?”</p> <p>Kate also appeared slightly confused, with the royal being told that she was not allowed to catch a ball until it had bounced off the back wall.</p> <p>Every year, about 1,000 children aged 11 to 13 from schools near Wimbledon participate in training sessions, with a lucky quarter of them selected to take part in the tournament.</p> <p>For those being tested, Kate had a message to share, “With all the discipline and everything you’ve learned, you’ll be able to take it into so many other parts of your life; things like confidence and that feeling of pride with being on any of the courts is such a big moment.”</p> <p>Kate and Federer were due to participate in a charity tennis day in 2022, but the Princess pulled out after the Queen’s funeral.</p> <p>Federer has become friends with the Royals and the Middletons, with the tennis legend even spotted at the wedding of Kate's sister Pippa to James Matthews in 2017.</p> <p>He has also visited Prince William and Princess Kate at their home in Anmer Hall in Norfolk and has given Prince George a private tennis lesson.</p> <p>Wimbledon ball boys and girls manager Sarah Goldson said, “We’re proud of the young people who dedicate so much time and effort to their role which plays an integral part in delivering successful championships.”</p> <p>As patron of the All England Club, Kate will present the trophies to the winners of Wimbledon 2023.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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“Where’s Andy Murray?” Famous family fires up over Wimbledon faux pas

<p>The family of Andy Murray are up in arms after the tennis champion was left out of a promotional artwork ahead of the annual Wimbledon competition. </p> <p>On Tuesday, the All England Club unveiled the promotional image to their social media accounts, which shows 15 past tennis champions, past and present, walking down the stairs of the main building at Wimbledon. </p> <p>At the forefront of the image are members of the “next generation of headline acts” Spaniard world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner, surrounded by sporting legends such as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and the Williams sisters Serena and Venus.</p> <p>Despite the image being filled with famous tennis faces, there is no image of Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, whose famous victory in July 2013 ended 77 years of waiting for a homegrown British male singles winner.</p> <p>Andy's family and fans reacted with outrage that Murray, who was officially knighted in May 2019, was left out of the composition.</p> <p>Murray’s uncle Niall Erskine tweeted, “Appalling at every level, all about the men in the forefront and your own British history-maker nowhere to be seen. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”</p> <p>Elder brother Jamie – who has won two Wimbledon mixed doubles titles – asked, “Where’s Andy Murray?”</p> <p>LA-based freelance illustrator Grant Gruenhaupt responded to the criticism by saying, “Worry not Jamie, there are more paintings on the way.”</p> <p>He added, “Back with Wimbledon on another fun series celebrating historic moments and players!"</p> <p>“This one featuring the greatest rivalries of the past and present as they make the historic walk through the clubhouse and onto Centre Court."</p> <p>“A lot of nuance in this one. Definitely one of the more challenging scenes I’ve had to tackle.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: All England Club / Getty Images</em></p>

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“It pains me”: Tennis star shares sad news

<p dir="ltr">Emma Raducanu has revealed that she will have to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, as she undergoes three “minor” surgeries on both of her hands and left ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">The twenty-year-old posted the update to Instagram on Wednesday, revealing that she has kept the severity of her injuries private for some time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu shared a snap from her hospital bed with a cast on her right hand, after undergoing the first of her three planned procedures.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is safe to say the last 10 months have been difficult as I dealt with a recurring injury on a bone of both hands,” she wrote in the handwritten statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try heal it, unfortunately it’s not enough.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It pains me that I will miss the summer events and I tried to downplay the issues so I thank all my fans who continued to support me when you did not know the facts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Looking forward to seeing you all back out there,” she ended the note with a hand drawn heart.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 2021 US Open champion has been struggling with a string of injuries as she tried to adjust to the demands of being a professional tennis player.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her most recent hand injury forced her to withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup finals at the end of the last year. At the beginning of this year, she rolled her ankle mid-match in a tournament in Auckland.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu is set to have the operation on her left hand this month after getting surgery for her left ankle in the coming weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">She hopes to train on the tennis court again by the end of the summer, but her team has refused to predict an exact return date.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans and fellow tennis players have commented their support and well wishes for the star.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Rest up, Emma, and come back stronger 💜💚,” commented the official Wimbledon Instagram account.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Speedy recovery ❤️,” wrote Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Surgery is never nice, always a little scary, well done,” commented one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma and you have many fans around the world supporting you and having your back,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma!, we will be waiting for you when the moment is right, wishing you the best,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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"Please believe me": Roger Federer refused entry into Wimbledon

<p>After being refused entry to Wimbledon, Roger Federer has been forced to boast about his tennis achievements to a security guard. </p> <p>Speaking with Trevor Noah on <em>The Daily Show</em>, the tennis champion shared the details of the incident that happened in November, where he was refused entry into the prestigious All England Lawn Tennis Club. </p> <p>Despite winning the major tournament a whopping eight times throughout his glittering career, the 20-time Grand Slam winner says he was initially turned away at the entrance gate.</p> <p>“I drive up to the gate where usually guests would come in. So I get out, and I tell my coach who was with me, ‘I’ll quickly go out and speak to the security lady. I got this,’” he recalls.</p> <p>“So then I get out and I’m like, ‘Hello I was wondering how I could get into Wimbledon?’ She asked if I had a membership card. When you win Wimbledon, you become a member automatically. And honestly I don’t know about membership cards, they are probably at home somewhere and I’ve just been travelling so I had no idea.”</p> <p>“I told her, ‘No I don’t have my membership card, but I am a member. I’m just wondering where I can get in,’” he told the guard, however his plea fell on deaf ears.</p> <p>“I’m like, ‘No, I am a member and normally when I’m here, I’m playing. And now it’s the first time the tournament is not on and I’m here.’"</p> <p>“I look at her in a panic one last time, and say, ‘I’m so sorry but I have won this tournament eight times, please, believe me, I am a member,’” he added.</p> <p>After an unsuccessful attempt at gaining access to the club, Federer decided to try another gate on the opposite side, where he was instantly recognised by another guard.</p> <p>He told the host, “The security guard standing there says, ‘Oh my god, Mr. Federer what are you doing here? Do you have your membership card? I said I don’t, but the security guard let me in and organised it all.”</p> <p>The tennis legend said after he finally gained access, he ended up having tea with the Wimbledon chairman for an hour.</p> <p>“And I thought of going over to the other side and giving the other security guard a wave, but I didn’t do it,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Wimbledon to make key change to all-white dress code

<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/female-tennis-stars-speak-out-against-all-white-wimbledon-dress-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wimbledon’s controversial all-white dress code</a> is expected to undergo a major change after the prestigious tennis competition faced months of pressure from female athletes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 1880s rule restricts players to wearing only white clothing - including undergarments such as underwear and bras - and has been the subject of criticism for the toll it takes on female players in relation to their periods.</p> <p dir="ltr">Current guidelines require players to wear all-white, with undergarments that can be seen during play or because of sweat only allowed to have a “single trim of colour no wider than one centimetre”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, Wimbledon bosses are due to scrap the undergarments rule for female players, which will come into effect from 2023 and will allow for different coloured underwear and bras to be worn.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-be94bf8d-7fff-b809-228d-6418307f5490"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The archaic rule became the subject of widespread attention after stars spoke about the anxiety around getting their period while competing, including Australian player Daria Saville who admitted she has needed to skip her period altogether and British star Heather Watson revealing she would likely take birth control to stop her period ahead of Wimbledon.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wimbledon</a>, wanna chat periods? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AddressTheDressCode?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AddressTheDressCode</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcjAioqMw4">pic.twitter.com/mcjAioqMw4</a></p> <p>— gabs (@gabriellaholmez) <a href="https://twitter.com/gabriellaholmez/status/1543197239182508033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">At the same time,the rule drew fresh criticism when Romanian player Mihaela Buzarnescu was forced to swap her bra for her coach’s prior to her first-round match in July, after officials noticed hers was too dark.</p> <p dir="ltr">"My bustier was too black and could be seen up here," she told <em>Eurosport </em>at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The white one I had was too transparent and you could see everything underneath and I couldn't wear it, so I borrowed from my coach, I took her bustier.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A group of protestors also made headlines during the ladies’ singles final, gathering outside Wimbledon dressed in white shirts and red undershorts with signs reading “About bloody time”, “Address the dress code” and “You can do it Ian Hewitt”, referring to the All England Club chairman.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gabriella Holmes and Holly Gordon, who organised the campaign Address the Dress Code to highlight the anxiety women face while competing in all-white, were among those protesting, telling <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jul/09/protesters-at-wimbledon-urge-end-to-all-white-dress-code-due-to-period-concerns#:~:text=3%20months%20old-,Protesters%20at%20Wimbledon%20urge%20end%20to%20all%2Dwhite,code%20due%20to%20period%20concerns&amp;text=Campaigners%20are%20urging%20Wimbledon%20organisers,female%20players%20who%20are%20menstruating." target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a></em> they began calling for change after opening up to each other about the challenges of playing sport while menstruating.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4648f22f-7fff-ec3f-f7cf-70fda8b1b488"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve come down today because we want Wimbledon to address the white dress code that doesn’t take into consideration female athletes on their periods,” Holmes said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/wimbledon-protest.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Members of the public have begun calling for action too, including Gabriella Holmes and Holly Gordon, the women who started the campaign Address the Dress Code. Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“We want to make it really known to Wimbledon that the rules they are making at the top, they’re all already filtering down to grassroots levels. We are already seeing tons of young girls who drop out of sports when they start their period or by the time they’ve hit puberty they’ve stopped sports altogether.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We think it’s the time to address those barriers for young girls getting into the sport and it starts at the top, so that’s Wimbledon. We want women to be able to focus on the tennis and on the sport and not have to worry about other factors when competing at this level.”</p> <p dir="ltr">More athletes have since spoken out about the issue, with Andy Murray’s mother and coach Judy describing it as a “traumatic experience” and noting that other sports had already dropped similar rules.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the biggest problems previously in sport was that it was always white shorts, white kit and so on in lots of different sports,” Murray told the <em>Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Everything was white. Nearly all sports have moved over to colour now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think it’s certainly a much more open talking point, if you are wearing all white and then possibly have a leak while you’re playing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fdb5d9d2-7fff-1b1d-78e8-9e621ea27795"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I cannot think of a much more traumatic experience than that.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indeed, it is time to address the dress code in sports and especially in Tennis competitions like Wimbledon. #<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AddressTheDressCode?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AddressTheDressCode</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZMD9OXg1iN">https://t.co/ZMD9OXg1iN</a></p> <p>— OJEApads (@OJEApads) <a href="https://twitter.com/OJEApads/status/1555134095717441541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Since the announcement of the rule change, tennis icon Billie Jean King has slammed the rule, saying it was one of her biggest “pet peeves”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My generation, we always worried because we wore all white all the time,” she told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And it’s what you wear underneath that’s important for your menstrual period.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And we’re always checking whether we’re showing. You get tense about it because the first thing we are is entertainers and you want whatever you wear to look immaculate, look great. We’re entertainers. We’re bringing it to the people.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement, the All England Club stated they were in discussions over ways to support players and prioritise women’s health.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f57600df-7fff-4a46-64e5-e21c91521e6c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Prioritising women’s health and supporting players based on their individual needs is very important to us, and we are in discussions with the WTA, with manufacturers and with the medical teams about the ways in which we can do that,” the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Nick Kyrgios’ legal case with “drunk” fan settled

<p dir="ltr">Nick Kyrgios has settled his legal case with the woman he <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/fan-accused-of-being-drunk-by-nick-kyrgios-wants-to-sue-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused of being drunk</a> during one of his matches at Wimbledon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios was playing against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in July when the Aussie star complained to the umpire about Anna Palus who was “costing him the game”. </p> <p dir="ltr">He said Palus was "drunk out of her mind" and "looks like she's had 700 drinks" which she took offence to after being removed from the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">Palus took offence to Kyrgios’ comments and proceeded to seek legal representation wanting to sue the tennis player for defamation. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, the case has been settled with Kyrgios apologising to Palus and donating money to a charity of her choosing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On 10 July 2022, during the Wimbledon men’s final, I told the umpire that a fan, who I now know to be Anna Palus, was distracting me during the match, believing that she was drunk,” his statement via Knight Temple Law read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I accept that belief was mistaken, and I apologise. </p> <p dir="ltr">“To make amends, I have donated £20,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, a charity chosen by Ms Palus. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I will not be commenting on this matter again.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Fan accused of being drunk by Nick Kyrgios wants to sue him

<p dir="ltr">A tennis fan who was accused by Nick Kyrgios of being drunk during a Wimbledon match wants to sue him for defamation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios was playing against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon back in July when the Aussie star complained to the umpire about Anna Palus who was “costing him the game”. </p> <p dir="ltr">He said Palus was "drunk out of her mind" and "looks like she's had 700 drinks" which she took offence to after being removed from the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">Palus has since hired legal representation and is looking to sue Kyrgios for defamation following his comments. </p> <p dir="ltr">“On Sunday July 10 2022 I attended the final of the Wimbledon tennis championships with my mother. It was an event we had been looking forward to for some time,” Palus’ statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’s false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.” </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">"She's drunk out of her mind and talking to me in the middle of a game. She's the one who looks like she's had 700 drinks."</p> <p>Classic Nick Kyrgios<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/mhDw7M2Zbd">pic.twitter.com/mhDw7M2Zbd</a></p> <p>— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisHammer180/status/1546145885528248320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">She explained that she was not a lawyer and was debating on whether or not she should take legal action before deciding that she felt like she had no choice.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegations are the only reasons for taking legal action.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Any damages recovered will be donated to charity. Given the extant claim, I am unable to comment further on the events of the day in question.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope that Mr Kyrgios will reflect on the harm he has caused me and my family and offer a prompt resolution to this matter.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, if he is unwilling to do this, I am committed to obtaining vindication in the High Court.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Prince George complains about sweltering Wimbledon heat

<p>A video of Prince George has emerged, as the young royal was spotted complaining to his father that he was "too hot" in his suit at Wimbledon. </p> <p>The 8-year-old was the perfect prince as he attended the men's final match with his parents, but with soaring summer temperatures hitting 28 degrees, he found himself struggling in his suit and tie. </p> <p>After hugging Prince William, the young prince initially said he was feeling "ok" but then complained about the temperature as he walked along with his parents.</p> <p>Fans on social media also expressed concern about the youngster being too warm, and Royal Editor Robert Jobson tweeted that while William and Kate were being respectful of the All England Club's formal dress code, nobody would have minded George wearing something less formal. </p> <p>As Prince William and Kate Middleton greeted Wimbledon officials, George was seen saying "it's too hot" to his parents.</p> <p>Kate then advised her son he needed to avoid sitting "in the bright sunshine" and added they are "often in the shade".</p> <p>Photos showed doting father William checking in on his son while he tried to cool himself down, as some viewers took to Twitter to express their concern for the young prince in his suit.</p> <p>One person wrote, "Why do they dress him in a suit and tie and in this heat."</p> <p>Another said, "Poor Prince George in a shirt, tie and jacket in that stifling heat."</p> <p>The young royal then beamed as he shook hands with servicemen and women before the match, and sat watching the men's final like a perfect gentlemen. </p> <p>Serbian tennis champ Novak Djokovic defeated Aussie Nick Kyrgios in the match, as he reigned in his seventh victory at Wimbledon. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Prince George's huge Wimbledon moment captured

<p>Prince George has had the honour of holding one of the most coveted prizes in tennis after watching Novak Djokovic defeat Nick Kyrgios in the men's singles grand final at Wimbledon.</p> <p>Tennis legend Djokovic was seen shaking hands with Prince William and his son, aged 8, after his name was added to the honours board in the All England Club for the seventh time.</p> <p>As George smiled and gave the tennis champ a thumbs up, Djokovic passed him the trophy to hold.</p> <p>However, after the Duchess of Cambridge pointed to the famous pineapple atop the trophy and George had had a chance to look at all the winners' names engraved on the cup, the young prince declared it was "a bit heavy" and passed it on to his mother.</p> <p>It comes after he appeared in the royal box alongside parents William and Kate to watch the action unfold. The young prince was spotted arriving at the club earlier in the day before being led inside by his mother.</p> <p>It was Kate's third appearance at the tournament, as she and Prince William arrived with George to watch the grand final.</p> <p>Watching from the front row between his parents, the young prince was enthralled by the performance put on by the two tennis aces.</p> <p>It was a big day for George, who is known to be a big tennis fan just like his mother.</p> <p><em>Images: BBC / Wimbledon</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"> </p>

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"Beyond ridiculous": Kyrgios slammed for finals fireworks

<p dir="ltr">Nick Kyrgios has come under fire for his behaviour during the nerve wrecking Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, which Aussie tennis great Rennae Stubbs described as “embarrassing”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-68f4af5f-7fff-0d78-153e-88d23698bb00"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">After winning the first set, Kyrgios was on the backfoot during the second and third, with Djokovic winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 and claiming the title for the seventh time.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="und">😘🏆2️⃣1️⃣🙏🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zo8PAScQzJ">pic.twitter.com/Zo8PAScQzJ</a></p> <p>— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1546210030130692102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">As his odds of winning began to decline, Kyrgios directed his frustrations at the player box where his girlfriend, dad, sister and trainers were sitting.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he dropped the serve for the first time during the second set of the fourth game, Kyrgios began questioning why he was having to ask his player box to support him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Say something,” he yelled in their direction later in the set. “You said nothing that whole point.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why do you stop? 40-0, 40-15 and you just relax! Why?”</p> <p dir="ltr">His supporters weren’t the only subjects of his furore either, after Kyrgios was slapped with a code violation for complaining to the chair umpire about fans distracting him while on serve, including a drunk audience member he asked the umpire to kick out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’re distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final, she’s drunk out of her mind,” he said while closing out his service game.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind in the first row, speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable? Nothing is acceptable? So kick her out!</p> <p dir="ltr">“I know exactly which one it is, it’s the one that looks like she’s had 700 drinks bro.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0bc04b34-7fff-3939-0bc1-eeedd2426429"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">No-one was ejected from the court, but plenty had something to say about Kyrgios’ behaviour, including Stubbs.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Honestly, this behavior of yelling at your box because they aren't doing what u want, is actually beyond ridiculous. THEY CANT READ YOUR MIND! Yes this is his way of dealing with pressure, I get it but this is straight up constant abuse to people that love you, its embarrassing</p> <p>— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/rennaestubbs/status/1546150155023486980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Honestly, this behaviour of yelling at your box because they aren’t doing what u want, is actually beyond ridiculous,” she tweeted. </p> <p dir="ltr">“THEY CAN’T READ YOUR MIND! Yes this is his way of dealing with pressure, I get it but this is straight up constant abuse to people that love you, it’s embarrassing.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sports journalist Andy Maher wrote: “You’d have to be a sucker for punishment to accept an invitation to sit in Kyrgios’ box.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e478369b-7fff-59e6-8f07-3a7aafe125f1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“If Nick Kyrgios offered you a spot in his player’s box you’d have to say ‘no’. All that stress and abuse; worst seat in the house,” journalist Bruce Guthrie said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">If Nick Kyrgios offered you a spot in his player’s box you’d have to say ‘no’. All that stress and abuse; worst seat in the house. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WimbledonFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WimbledonFinal</a></p> <p>— Bruce Guthrie (@brucerguthrie) <a href="https://twitter.com/brucerguthrie/status/1546138584708575233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Kyrgios’ players box has the toughest job in sports,” American basketball player Nate Wolters added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios has acknowledged how supportive his team has been throughout the tournament and that they put up with a lot from him during matches.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve got an incredible support crew,” he said after the fourth round. “My physio is one of my best friends. My best friend is my agent. I’ve got the best girlfriend in the world. I’ve just got so many people around me, they just support me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel like I can reflect on all those dark times when I pushed them all away. Now to sit here, quarterfinals of Wimbledon, feeling good, feeling composed, feeling mature, having that around me, I’m extremely blessed. I feel like I’m just comfortable in my skin.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Following his defeat, he described Djokovic as “a bit of a god”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want to congratulate Novak,” Kyrgios said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To all the ball kids and umpires, I know we have tough relationships, thanks for putting up with it.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3a268d43-7fff-7e7b-8674-085c2baa2460"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“I have been suffering”: Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon

<p dir="ltr">Rafael Nadal has officially withdrawn from Wimbledon ahead of his semi-final match against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury, prompting his Aussie competitor to sail straight into Sunday’s men’s final.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nadal confirmed the news on Friday morning (AEST) after it was reported that he suffered a 7mm abdominal tear during his quarter-final win against Taylor Fritz.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, as you can imagine, if I am here, I have to pull out from the tournament,” he said in a press conference.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As everybody saw yesterday, I had been suffering with pain in the abdominal. I was not OK there, as yesterday I said. That’s confirmed. I have a tear in the muscle in the abdominal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was thinking during the whole day about the decision to make. It doesn’t make sense to go (on), even if I try through my career to keep going.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was very tough circumstances but it is obvious if I keep going the injury will be worse and worse.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c490f47c-7fff-766e-5fbd-2f338f74fc5c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s the thing I can say now and feel very sad to say that.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We're sad to see it end this way, <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a></p> <p>Thank you for another year of unforgettable moments at The Championships<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a> <a href="https://t.co/XadiEVxaWF">pic.twitter.com/XadiEVxaWF</a></p> <p>— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon/status/1545111323926740992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old estimated it would take “three, four weeks” to recover from the injury, though a timeline for his return to competing is unclear according to multiple reports.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though he reiterated that he will continue playing, Nadal said his injury prevented him from playing at his best.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I made the decision because I believe that I can’t win two matches under the circumstances,” he said. “It is not only that I can't serve at the right speed, it is that I can't do the normal movement to serve.</p> <p dir="ltr">“After I say that, to imagine myself winning two matches, and for respect to myself in some way, I don’t want to go out there and not be competitive enough to play at the level I need to play to achieve my goals.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Nadal’s withdrawal has dashed his chances of winning his 23rd grand slam title at this year’s competition, which would have made him tie with Serena Williams on the all-time list for having the most major singles trophies.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b42deb21-7fff-97af-b408-f33804e7e359"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In response to his opponent’s announcement, Kyrgios took to Instagram to wish Nadal well on his recovery.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfuR8AKhwjP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfuR8AKhwjP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Different players, different personalities @rafaelnadal I hope your recovery goes well and we all hope to see you healthy soon. Till next time,” the Canberran captioned a throwback photo of the pair shaking hands at the net.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios, who has become the first Australian man to make the Wimbledon singles final since Mark Philippoussis in 2003, will face Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie, who are due to play the other semi-final match on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-af46f9d6-7fff-cf64-71d0-657f9bfa8a1a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Female tennis stars speak out against all-white Wimbledon dress code

<p dir="ltr">Wimbledon, one of the most long standing and prestigious tennis competitions on the sporting calendar, is steeped in tradition, including a strict all-white dress code for its players.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Nick Kyrgios came under fire for wearing red shoes and a red cap on the court, female players have spoken out about the anxiety the dress code causes when it comes to a common experience: periods.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aussie player Daria Saville told <em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfpkO3ChCzY/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Aus</a></em> she has needed to skip her period as a result of the dress code, while others have spoken about the stress that comes from worrying about bleeding through their ‘Wimbledon whites’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Recently just being at Wimbledon, I was talking with my friends saying that I love the all-white look,” the no. 98 told the outlet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But then a few girls said they hate it because it sucks to wear all white while being on your period.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a4d3f821-7fff-b193-7108-8df2c756bfeb"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s true, I myself had to skip my period around Wimbledon for the reason that I didn’t want to worry about bleeding through, as we already have enough stress.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">As we enter the last week of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wimbledon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wimbledon</a>, we think its time to have a real discussion around the all white dress code and how it feeds period shame amongst professionals and young girls. <a href="https://t.co/oKhDXB2Jo9">https://t.co/oKhDXB2Jo9</a></p> <p>— holly (@hollygordonn) <a href="https://twitter.com/hollygordonn/status/1543877058496978944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Wimbledon’s strict dress code was written in the 1880s, when any form of sweat on an athlete’s clothing was considered improper and rude, with “undergarments” that are visible or could be visible because of sweat also subject to the rule.</p> <p dir="ltr">The all-white attire was believed to minimise the visibility of sweat while helping the players stay cool, according to <em><a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/female-tennis-stars-detail-anxiety-of-strict-wimbledon-dress-code/m1zsxut2i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBS</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">As beneficial as it may be to help players stay cool in hotter temperatures, its impact on female players seems to outweigh any benefits, with some athletes even turning to birth control to skip their period around the competition.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll probably go on the pill just to skip my period for Wimbledon,” British player Heather Watson recently told the <em>BBC</em>. “That’s the thought process and the conversation girls have around it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">British star Alicia Barnett recently opened up about the mental stress of wearing white while on her period, all while also dealing with the accompanying symptoms that impact her performance.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with the PA news agency, she said that though she loves the tradition, “some traditions could be changed” in her opinion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I, for one, am a massive advocate for women’s rights and I think having this discussion is just amazing, that people are now talking about it,” Barnett said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Personally, I love the tradition of all-whites and I think we will handle it pretty well.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think being on your period on tour is hard enough, but to wear whites as well isn’t easy.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Reflecting on the physical impact of menstruation on performance, Barnett told PA: “Your body feels looser, your tendons get looser, sometimes you feel like you’re a lot more fatigued, sometimes your coordination just feels really off, and for me I feel really down and it’s hard to get motivation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Obviously, you’re trying to play world-class tennis but it’s really hard when you're PMS-ing and you feel bloated and tired.<br />“Why do we need to be shy about talking about it?”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1f2b69c7-7fff-fa34-f9df-adc49784764e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Former athlete Monica Puig addressed the issue on Twitter in May, responding to commentator David Law’s tweet where he revealed that he had never considered the physical impact of menstruation on athletes during his 25 years working in tennis.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Definitely something that affects female athletes! Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks. <a href="https://t.co/PzyHnPlSJk">https://t.co/PzyHnPlSJk</a></p> <p>— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) <a href="https://twitter.com/MonicaAce93/status/1531588251642912768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Definitely something that affects female athletes!” Puig wrote in response. “Finally bringing it to everyone’s attention! Not to mention the mental stress of having to wear all white at Wimbledon and praying not to have your period during those two weeks.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Law is among a growing number of commentators also addressing the issue, including The Tennis Podcast host Catherine Whitaker, who has said the dress code has outlived its time and has called for the rules to be more flexible.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would like to see it change,” she said in one interview. “If they had a clothing policy that affected men in the way that it does women, I don’t think that particular tradition would last.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I cannot imagine going into the biggest day of my life, with my period, and being forced to wear white.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d7e8b3a1-7fff-1842-646a-9329fcbc23a1"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“Keep doing you”: Kyrgios goes head to head with reporter

<p dir="ltr">After cinching a five-set win against Brandon Nakashima, Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios shut down a reporter’s attempts to stir up controversy.</p> <p dir="ltr">During his post-match press conference, one reporter targeted Kyrgios’ wardrobe choices - namely the red Jordans and matching cap he wore for his fourth round clash against Nakashima - but the athlete was having none of it.</p> <p dir="ltr">Referring to Wimbledon’s dress code rules - where players are required to wear almost entirely white while on the court - the reporter questioned why Kyrgios made such bold outfit choices in light of previous comments he made about controversy seeming to “materialise around” him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Because I do what I want,” Kyrgios said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So you’re above the rules?” the reporter hit back.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No. I’m not above the rules,” the 27-year-old answered.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So what is it? They don’t apply to you?” the reporter asked.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fe3979cd-7fff-13af-fba8-d0214e7a0de9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I just like my Jordans.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Keep doing you then champion”: the way Kyrgios fails to get riled up by this line of questioning is a delight to watch <a href="https://t.co/M6u6T94Wu0">pic.twitter.com/M6u6T94Wu0</a></p> <p>— Gavin Coote (@GavinCoote) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinCoote/status/1544100665282007041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Though Kyrgios wasn’t biting, the reporter kept trying to bait the athlete.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t want to ruin the surprise but the referee’s going to be speaking to you about (his uniform),” the reporter said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s OK. I’ll wear triple whites tomorrow,” Kyrgios said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But that’s fine then. No one else, in both draws, wear …” the reporter began, with Kyrgios interjecting: “But no one else - even after Wimbledon - no one else really walks with Jordans on the court.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When the moderator tried to interject, the reporter apologised, saying that Kyrgios “just moaned about the controversy that surrounds him”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I haven’t moaned. I love it.” Kyrgios said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So you just laugh it off then?” the reporter asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah, it’s just more attention for me. What’s that saying? Any publicity is good publicity right?” Kyrgios answered.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you say so,” the reporter said, to which Kyrgios replied, “Keep doing you then champion”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios has been the subject of plenty of controversy and criticism, but has said he’s okay with it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just smile,” he said. “It’s so funny. Hilarious. I almost just wake up and read things, I just laugh.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And I never forget things. Whether it was three, four years ago, I have a massive chip on my shoulder. I sit here now in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon again, and I just know there’s so many people that are so upset.</p> <p dir="ltr">“None of you know me at all - people love just to have an opinion.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ce17fed0-7fff-2fd0-1bc4-566351598a66"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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