It’s not just the players and umpires who make Wimbledon what it is every year. Amid the frenzy that accompanies the most iconic fortnight in tennis, thousands of retail workers, kitchen staff, event volunteers, and security personnel are on hand at SW19 to ensure that both the stars and the huge crowds are kept happy.
However, Adam Jones represents a different kind of unsung hero at the All England Tennis Club. He annually rubs shoulders with the greats of the game at the tournament, but not on the famed Centre Court. Indeed, the vital work of the 27-year-old takes place out of the limelight, away from the cameras, and in front of a smattering of fans.
Since 2022, Jones has signed up as a practice partner at Wimbledon. In the three years since, he’s become a vital component of player preparation and has hit up with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner.
“I’m living the dream in a different way, but it’s still amazing,” he told The Times. “My mum once watched me hit with Novak at Wimbledon and that, for me, is one of my best memories in tennis. Even though we’re not playing a match, it’s still pretty awesome to say I’ve practised with all these amazing guys.”
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While his hitting partners will vie for a top prize of £3million, Jones’ involvement isn’t motivated by making money. He’s said to receive just £125 a day for his role, plus a contribution towards food and racket stringing, a pittance when you take accommodation costs into the equation.
He was more handsomely rewarded last year, when he spent six months travelling with the 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic. The Croatian reportedly paid him a salary and covered his expenses in exchange for Jones helping her practice during WTA tournaments.
His tournament debut in 2022 was anything but a gentle introduction, though. He added: “I hit with the likes of Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud, and my last hour was a set with Jannik Sinner.
“I got a smoking from Sinner. It was 6-1 or 6-2. It’s just different with the pace of the ball and the accuracy. They play close to the line consistently and don’t drop too many balls short.”
His role means having to be available at any point during the day. However, Jones has established a favourable reputation, and claimed: “The top players kept requesting me back, which is really cool. I must have been doing a good job of not shanking too many balls.”
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