Wimbledon backed Maria relaunch film

WIMBLEDON supplied official footage of doping offender Maria Sharapova winning the singles in 2004 for a promotional film that was made when she was banned from tennis.

The All England Club were asked for archive material for a 55-minute documentary about the Russian’s journey back from the meldonium drugs scandal for which she served a 15-month ban.

The film The Point, produced by Sharapova’s agents IMG, was launched last week on iTunes, with footage of her parading the Venus Rosewater dish after beating Serena Williams included in the trailer and the All England Club listed in the credits.

Wimbledon had been in a quandary not only because Sharapova was suspended at the time of the request but also because they would almost certainly have followed the French Open in rejecting her for a wildcard had she not withdrawn through injury.

The club decided to supply the material because it was historical rather than current but declined the usual payment for their footage so as not to make any money out of a banned player.

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HENMAN, who chairs Wimbledon’s tennis sub-committee that decides championship wildcards, has been criticised for not watching much tennis between his BBC pundit duties. But those involved in the wildcard discussions say Henman is remarkably well informed about the candidates and had done all the necessary homework. Meanwhile it is understood Wimbledon chairman Philip Brook stayed in the meeting when Jay Clarke, managed by his daughter Vicky Brook, was being discussed. But Brook plays no part in any of the wildcard debates, leaving it to the tennis specialists.

ENGLAND cricket director and former captain Andrew Strauss (right) is the latest leading sporting figure to become a member of the All England Club. Strauss’s name is on the list of new temporary members on the notice board in the clubhouse. Some temporary members never make it to full membership but Strauss, a good tennis player, has all the credentials to be fast-tracked. He has been the guest speaker at the All England Club dinner and was a Royal Box guest yesterday.

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would have made more financial sense for triple Wimbledon champion and BBC pundit Boris Becker, declared bankrupt before the start of The Championships, to have bought a property in SW19 rather than renting a house near the courts for the last seven years at around £15,000 a month.