Rebecca performs Wimbledon coin toss
A GIRL who lost her father to a brain tumour performed the coin toss at the Wimbledon ladies’ final yesterday.
Rebecca Jones, 12, stepped out on Centre Court watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 1.2 billion.
She performed the prematch ritual to decide who would serve first between finalists Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza.
Shortly before her big moment, Rebecca said: “I am quite nervous right now, I don’t want to mess up.
“I just have to take the moment and enjoy every second of it.
“I really like Venus Williams, she’s such a legend, so it would be amazing for her to win at 37.”
Rebecca, whose father died in 2016 following a four- year- illness, was chosen by BBC Children in Need to perform the coin toss.
Two charities – The Brain Tumour Charity and Princess Alice Hospice – supported Rebecca and her family through the bereavement.
The London schoolgirl said: “After my dad was diagnosed, I think Katy, my sister, was struggling a bit expressing when she was sad or needed someone to talk to.”
She said counselling helped, adding: “It made us be able to express our opinions more.”
Garbine Muguruza triumphed in yesterday’s final with a straight-set win.