LONDON, June 30: Novak Djokovic witnessed a marriage proposal in the crowd at Centre Court during his Wimbledon first-round match Monday and was quick to ask for an invitation to the wedding.
After Djokovic won the first set against Wu Yibing of China, one man in the crowd took the opportunity to pop the question to his girlfriend.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion clearly took notice, coming back out on court and making a heart gesture and then two thumbs up toward the couple before shouting out: “I want an invitation to the wedding.”
If he gets one, he could bring a pretty decent wedding singer along.
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny was in the player’s box on Centre Court, two days after Djokovic appeared on stage during the artist’s concert in London.
Bad Bunny has experience with weddings — there was a real one performed during his Super Bowl halftime show this year.
Lucy Liu’s character in Kill Bill inspired Osaka
Wimbledon’s strict rules about all-white clothing didn’t prevent Naomi Osaka from making another fashion statement as she walked onto the grass at the All England Club on Monday.
Osaka, who has made a habit of creating a buzz with her creative outfits at recent Grand Slam tournaments, wore a flowing kimono with swinging sleeves and elaborate embroidery as she walked onto No. 3 Court for her first-round match against Elsa Jacquemot.
After winning 6-1, 7-5, Osaka said she got the inspiration for the outfit from a Quentin Tarantino movie.
“For me, my Japanese heritage means a lot. They say all white at Wimbledon and I thought it would be really cool to come out in a kimono,” Osaka said in an on-court interview. “I just get inspired by a lot of different things, and for me, one of my favourite movies is Kill Bill. So I really love Lucy Liu’s character, O-Ren Ishii, and she comes out in this really iconic white kimono. I always tell people I like to be like a video game character sometimes, I don’t want to be myself when I’m playing on the court. And I kind of try to embody her a little.”
The Japanese player’s latest creation drew a rave reaction from the crowd, many of whom were eagerly waiting with their phones aloft to record her entrance. One female fan shouted “C’mon queen!” as Osaka walked out.
Osaka kept her robe on as she bounced on her toes at the net while listening to instructions from the chair umpire. She then removed it and placed it on her chair to begin warmups before the match started.
Osaka is far from the first player to make a fashion statement at Wimbledon, and wasn’t the only one to do so on Monday. Seven-time men’s champion Djokovic, for instance, walked out for his match on Centre Court in a white blazer with green details.
But the four-time Grand Slam champion’s fashion creations and walk-ons are becoming an eagerly anticipated ritual at both Grand Slam tournaments and other events.
At the Australian Open this year, Osaka walked onto court wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and holding a white parasol. At the French Open, she came out for her opening match in a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice, which she removed to reveal a sequined gold playing dress. (AP)
