Distractions during a tennis serve are usually limited to screaming from the crowd or outside noise. But during a match at Wimbledon on Sunday morning, a new one came to life — uncorking a champagne bottle while a player is serving.
In the middle of a third-round match between Anastasia Potapova and Mirra Andreeva on Court 3, a fan decided to pop champagne right as Potapova was about to serve. The noise was loud enough that the umpire had to make an announcement.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please, if you are opening a bottle of champagne, don’t do it as the players are about to serve,” Australian umpire John Blom promptly said over the microphone.
Potapova flashed a grin and nodded her head in approval once the announcement was made. Laughter and applause quickly filled across the stadium.
The All England Club has conditions about entry to the grounds, stating that “all corked bottles, including bottles of champagne and sparkling wine, must be opened prior to being taken into the stands of any court.” However, this isn’t the first time someone hasn’t followed those rules at Wimbledon.
During a match between Benoit Paire and Jiri Vesely in 2019, a champagne cork flew onto the court, resulting in a similar announcement from the umpire.
Andreeva defeated Potapova in straight sets (6-2, 7-5) on Sunday, advancing to the fourth round of play.
