Doubles pair in a spin over World Cup loyalties

AS England and Croatia prepare to battle for a place in the World Cup final, two fans from the opposing sides have had to put rivalry aside in pursuit of their own sporting glory.

English player Dominic Inglot has formed a successful tennis doubles partnership with Croatian Franko Skugor and yesterday they reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Intriguingly, that match could be scheduled at the same time as the World Cup semi-final at 7pm tomorrow.

Both are keen football fans and their preparation for matches has been dominated by light-hearted teasing about the big match.

Inglot, 32, said: ‘It has been constant banter. We have been talking about how we are going to have to keep it civil until Wednesday.

‘He was saying “yeah, we’ll have a tough match” and I told him “yeah, I agree – England will have a tough match in the final”.’

He added: ‘Hopefully, some Brits will be supporting Croatia when we play together.’

The pair are hoping to watch the football match together after their Wimbledon clash if it does not overlap.

Inglot, whose father Andrei was a former professional footballer in Poland, is a big Arsenal fan and was recently teased by Andy Murray for his devotion to the England team. Speaking about an encounter before England’s group stage match against Panama, Inglot said: ‘Andy told me, “You need to relax, mate, and calm down, it’s Panama.”

‘I said, “No, it’s passion.” And I asked him, “Where’s the Scottish team?”’

Inglot and his 30-year-old partner, who are seeded 15th, defeated Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Chilean Nicolas Jarry in four sets yesterday.

On Monday, Davis Cup winner Inglot posted a picture online in which his face is painted with a St George’s flag and he is wearing an England football shirt.

‘Pumped for a big week,’ he wrote alongside the picture.

He told The Daily Telegraph: ‘I love football and I love the fact that England are doing so well. It’s a great summer and I think it will be one of those summers we remember, with the weather and the team doing so well. I have that feeling.’

This year’s Wimbledon has been the UK’s worst since 2007 with not a single British player making it to the second week. But a number of British players remain in the doubles competitions, with Murray’s brother Jamie leading the charge for a title.