It's 2am and Nick Kyrgios wants to kick on. Welcome to Wimbledon Village
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, a big basketball fan, knew NBA guard Jordan Clarkson – who was at the award-winning cocktail bar on Monday to celebrate his free agency commitment to the New York Knicks – was in London to watch the tennis.
Kyrgios dialled Clarkson's number and told the ex-Utah Jazz sharpshooter to meet him outside Hemingways. Soon enough, an Uber rolled up, and they were off to party in east London.
Welcome to just another night in the usually 'sleepy' Wimbledon Village, which springs to life with tourists and sports stars during the Wimbledon tennis fortnight. There is nothing like it at any of the other three grand slams.
The village is located at the top of the hill near Wimbledon Common and a natural extension of the grasscourt major, with a traditional English vibe and lively dining and bar scene, including the famous Dog and Fox hotel (of which Kyrgios is a regular).
There is also an annual competition where village businesses go head-to-head to design the best and most creative tennis-themed window decoration, with centre court tickets to semi-finals day up for grabs.
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