A surprising moment at the Wimbledon final saw play briefly halted when a champagne cork landed on the court during a tense match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
An Unexpected Interruption
The unusual incident occurred in the fourth game of the second set. Jannik Sinner was preparing to serve when a champagne cork popped from the stands and landed right on the grass court.
Sinner calmly bent down, picked up the rogue cork, and handed it to a ballgirl. Meanwhile, his opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, showed visible frustration, spreading his arms in exasperation at the unexpected pause.
Sinner’s Lighthearted Take
After the match, Sinner chuckled about the incident. “Only here at Wimbledon, but that’s exactly why we love playing here,” he remarked during his on-court interview.
He then added with a laugh, “It’s a very expensive tournament, you know,” referencing the luxury often associated with the prestigious event and its attendees.
A Recurring Wimbledon Moment
This isn’t the first time a popping cork has disrupted play at the All England Club. A similar occurrence happened during a match between American Amanda Anisimova and Czech Linda Noskova.
On that occasion, just as Anisimova was about to serve, a fan opened a bottle. She audibly questioned, “Why are you opening it now?”
In 2023, during a match involving Anastasia Potapova and Mirra Andreeva, umpire John Blom had to make an announcement. He politely requested, “Ladies and gentlemen, please, if you are opening a bottle of champagne, don’t do it as the players are about to serve.”
The Rules of the Court
The All England Club has specific guidelines to prevent such interruptions. Their conditions of entry explicitly state that “All corked bottles, including bottles of champagne and sparkling wine, must be opened prior to being taken into the stands of any court.”
Despite this rule, the tradition of fans enjoying champagne in the stands often leads to these mid-match surprises. Lanson, the official champagne brand for Wimbledon, even promotes its bottles with taglines like “to be savored at your most sparkling moments.”
It seems that for some fans, a “sparkling moment” includes a serve from one of the world’s top tennis players in the final.
- A champagne cork landed on court during the Wimbledon final, halting play.
- Jannik Sinner reacted with amusement, while Carlos Alcaraz appeared frustrated.
- This isn’t an isolated incident; similar disruptions have occurred in past Wimbledon tournaments.
- Wimbledon rules require all corked bottles to be opened before being brought into the stands.
The incident provided a memorable, albeit brief, pause in what was otherwise a thrilling championship match, reminding everyone of Wimbledon’s unique blend of elite sport and traditional social atmosphere.
