CHRIS SERVES ACE FOR CHARITY
Wimbledon skirt to be auctioned off for the Gavin Glynn Foundation
GREYSTONES man Chris Quinn will auction off the tennis whites he borrowed from Kim Clistjers for his brief turn on court at Wimbledon.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Clijsters and her partner Rennae Stubbs were facing Andrea Jaeger and Conchita Martinez in a ladies’ invitational doubles competition last Friday when Chris called out a serving tip from the stands and Clijsters invited him to join the players on court.
He managed to squeeze into her skirt to return the serve of the former world number one.
A YouTube video of the fun encounter has since been viewed more than 11 million times.
The 46-year-old dad has decided to use his sudden fame to raise some funds for a local charity and will auction off the skirt in aid of the Gavin Glynn Foundation.
THE Greystones man who was the talk of the tennis courts at Wimbledon is hoping to strike while the iron is hot and turn his 11 million (and counting) YouTube views into funds for the Gavin Glynn Foundation.
Greystones Tennis Club captain Chris Quinn became an internet sensation last week as he became one of only a handful of Irish players to step onto a Wimbledon court. Unlike the male players to go before him though, he did it in a skirt!
Four time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters and her partner Rennae Stubbs were facing Andrea Jaeger and Conchita Martinez in a ladies’ invitational doubles competition last Friday.
During the friendly, Clijsters called out to the crowd for advice on her serve. Chris called ‘ body’ from the stand, and got Kim’s attention.
‘Why don’t you go there?’ she responded, and Chris came down from his seat. However, Clijsters noted that the Wicklow man wasn’t appropriately dressed in proper all-white attire and offered him one of her skirts to squeeze into. She collapsed on the ground in mirth as Alan struggled to get the skirt on – and she wasn’t alone.
After they regained their compusre, they then took on the serious business of tennis. Chris managed to return her first serve, but missed two further shots.
‘ That’s a man… in a skirt… trying to return Kim Clijsters’ serve. It’s 2017 people,’ the commentator is heard saying over the footage.
Chris thoroughly enjoyed the light hearted moment, not knowing how much attention it would attract.
‘My friend and I were getting flights back to play a match in Carrickmines,’ he said. ‘We were sitting in the lounge at Gatwick when the clip came on TV. Within a couple of minutes a few people recognised me. Since then it’s been pretty busy!’
The skirt at the centre of the story is to be auctioned to raise money for the Gavin Glynn Foundation.
‘If my little five minutes of fame can raise some money for a great cause, I’m happy to be associated,’ said Chris.
His three daughters, aged 17, 14 and 12, have taken the attention in their stride and, according to Chris, his wife has told him he still has to do the dishes, YouTube famous or not.
‘ There was great banter between the players and the crowd,’ said Chris, about the match that day.
‘Not many people can say they had Kim Clijsters on the ground in front of them laughing!’
The commentator said that he was glad there was no camera to provide a view of Chris from the back.
‘I have to agree with him. I apologise to anyone who had to see me from that angle!’ joked Chris this week in Greystones.
He said that Clijsters was very nice and down to earth. They had a photograph taken afterwards, and she came over and gave Chris a big hug.
‘ Tennis has a reputation for being upper class and stuffy,’ said Chris. ‘It’s actually not, in any tennis club in the country there’s great fun and camaraderie.
Chris and his friend got to see Roger Federer warming up during their trip, as well as the Ladies semi-finals and some of the mixed doubles.
An auction site is being built for those who would like to bid on the skirt. For the moment, go to thegavinglynnfoundation.ie or greystones ltc.ie.