The hilarious moment in which two veteran players handed over their rackets to two ball boys to play at Wimbledon has caused a sensation on the networks.
In the clip, which was shared on the All England Club’s social media accounts this weekend, Mark Philippoussis and Tommy Haas can be seen playing Marcos Baghdatis and Xavier Malisse in the men’s invitational doubles match.
Philippoussis and Haas can be seen handing their rackets to two waiting ball boys, who seemed delighted at the chance to play for the prestigious club.
The clip, which was filmed last year at the tournament, showed anonymous ball boys doing their best to return shots from professional players Malisse and Baghdatis.
The video left many in stitches, with one commenting: ‘How nervous they must have been to play on that court!’
The hilarious moment in which two veteran players gave their rackets to two ball boys to play at Wimbledon has caused a sensation on the networks
Another wrote: ‘Love this! I watched the ball boys and girls often. Value them!
A third added: ‘Wow! These will be remembered for the rest of your life! Look at his big smile.
A fourth commented: ‘I saw this in person! It’s much more fun when you’re in a crowd.
‘This put a huge smile on my face, I bet this made her whole year!’
Meanwhile, others questioned the ball skills of those who played in the match, with a write-in; “I always thought ball boys should be tennis professionals.”
Another wrote: This is a real pain in the eye.
“Everyone who handles balls should know how to play tennis, otherwise don’t apply.”
Sharing the clip on their official social media, the Wimbledon account wrote: “The moment you’ve been waiting for.”
The video left many tennis fans in stitches, with many saying it was a memory ball boys would cherish for a lifetime.
In the video, the two pros can be seen approaching the ball boys at the back of the court, before handing them their rackets.
Clearly delighted, the boys ran onto the court and quickly began jogging on the spot as they warmed up.
Malisse and Baghdatis began to slowly pass the ball to them, slapping it back and forth to cheers from the crowd.
However, one of the ball boys seemed overly enthusiastic, swinging his racket and hitting his ball into the net.
It is not the first time that professionals have invited amateurs to the invitational doubles court at Wimbledon.
In 2019, Henri Leconte and Patrick McEnroe decided to spice up their first round match with Jacco Eltingh and Paul Haarhuis inviting the referee to participate.
In the video, the two pros can be seen approaching the ball boys at the back of the court, before handing over their rackets.
Clearly delighted, the boys ran onto the court and quickly began jogging on the spot as they warmed up.
Malisse and Baghdatis began to slowly pass the ball to them, slapping it back and forth to cheers from the crowd.
With the score tied at 2-2 at 5-5 in the second set, Leconte decided to offer his racket to the referee and take his place in the chair.
The referee was thrown straight into the action at the net with his partner McEnroe, the younger brother of former champion John, on serve.
After an exchange of volleys, he was thrown and couldn’t chase him down fast enough in his jacket and tie.
Leconte made a running commentary, shouting ‘yes’ every time the referee hit the ball.
And when offered a simple spike into the net on break point, Leconte exclaimed ‘finish it’, and the referee duly complied.
The official social media account of the tennis tournament caused a sensation this weekend when it shared the clip from 2022
It was at the next point that the referee stole the show, connecting with a game-winning volley on the tram tracks and then falling over, losing his balance and tripping over himself.
The moment drew laughter from the crowd, applause from Leconte and adulation from McEnroe.
‘You are definitely my hero. You can do it, one more point please,’ said Leconte in the chair.
But on the next point he could only volley high and wide for another two.
Facing break point again, the referee executed, this time with a forehand winner into the service box as Leconte yelled ‘finish’.
By this time, the referee had had enough and returned the racket to Leconte to finish the rest of the game.
Unfortunately for Leconte and McEnroe, the help of the referee could not prevent the loss.
