Court criticism gets turfed out

RICHARD LEWIS defended the courts at Wimbledon after complaints from players last week.

The All England Club chief executive said: “We respect the players views but we can only go by what we go by every year, our grounds team.

“They have won awards over the years and we are confident about what they do.

“As far as the courts are concerned we are 100 per cent happy with them, they are as good as ever.” THE presence of Roger Taylor in the Royal Box proved a lucky omen for Britain’s top players.

Forty-four years ago, in 1973, was the last time Britain had a man and a woman in the last eight – Taylor and Virginia Wade.

That was before yesterday when Andy Murray and Johanna Konta ended the wait. Wimbledon’s media team were caught off guard – by a barking mad question.

Paralympian sprinter Libby Clegg had her guide dog in the Royal Box.

And with Andy Murray being allowed to break the dress code to be in the box in a tracksuit one journalist asked: “Is there a dress code for dogs?” There was, of course, a paws before he got an answer. A young security guard was the bravest man at Wimbledon yesterday.

The baby-faced attendant faced a huge test when David Haye and Carl Froch marched towards him.

But he stood his ground as he told the boxers they weren’t allowed into the media restaurant as they didn’t have the right wristbands.