Loud boos erupted on Centre Court as the Wimbledon men’s singles final was disrupted at a crucial point in the second set. Jannik Sinner, who led 2-1 at the time and was serving to take the fourth game, after an earlier break, had to put down his racket while he was about to fire a shot towards Carlos Alcaraz.
Play was momentarily stopped because as Sinner was preparing to serve, a bottle of champagne was popped in the stands and a cork flew high up into the air. The noise had an impact on both players and the world No. 1 walked back and had to start his routine once again.
But the serve could only take place after a break in play, while Alcaraz threw his arms up in frustration and appeared to mouth an angry message to the section of fans where the noise came from.
The cork landed on the court and had to be retrieved by a ball girl, after umpire Alison Hughes spotted where it landed and gave directions to remove the object.
A ring of boos engulfed the court and the umpire had to warn the crowd via the tannoy, saying: “Do not pop bottles as the players are about to serve.”
Sinner was then able to serve out to take the game and maintain his advantage, but Alcaraz was visibly frustrated that his concentration was broken at what could prove to be a vital stage of his title defence.
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The Spanish star shook his head as he walked to the back of the court, awaiting the green light from the match official to get play underway again.
It was not the first time in the tournament an umpire had to step in to curb more champagne corks from being popped during matches.
During a men’s doubles quarter-final tie consisting of eventual champions Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash against fellow Briton Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, the same loud pop was heard right before a serve.
The umpire addressed the crowd to say: “Ladies and gentlemen, when you open your champagne bottles, please do not pop the cork onto the court. Thank you.”
Between sets in Emma Raducanu’s first-round win over Mimi Xu, a stray champagne cork flew onto the court.
She addressed the bizarre delay in her victorious interview, poking fun at the incident: “I’m glad people were having fun today. I saw a champagne cork fly onto the court.
“I’m glad you guys are having a good time. Cheers to you.”