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Wimbledon mixed champion Verbeek gets Centre Court to sing Happy Birthday to dad

Wimbledon mixed champion Verbeek gets Centre Court to sing Happy Birthday to dad

India Today11-07-2025
A touching scene unfolded on Centre Court on Thursday, as Dutch player Sem Verbeek guided the Wimbledon crowd in singing 'Happy Birthday' to his father just moments after clinching the 2025 mixed doubles crown.Verbeek, playing alongside Czech partner Katerina Siniakova, won his first Grand Slam title with a 7-6(3), 7-6(3) victory over Britain's Joe Salisbury and Brazil's Luisa Stefani. But what stood out even more than the win was what came next.advertisementDuring the trophy presentation, Verbeek took the microphone and asked the crowd to join him in singing for his father, Frank Verbeek, who was sitting in the stands. The gesture brought an emotional reaction from Frank, as the crowd's birthday song echoed through Centre Court on a day he won't soon forget.Watch the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wimbledon (@wimbledon)
Te"I know he's going to hate this but I'm going to love it. It's my dad's birthday today! His name is Frank. If we could all sing happy birthday to him, it would mean so, so much," Verbeek said during his on counrt speech after the win.The title was not just Verbeek's first Grand Slam, but also only the third doubles trophy of his career. The 31-year-old and Siniakova had never played together before this tournament, but they found instant chemistry. Their run included a win over top seeds Harri Heliovaara and Anna Danilina in the first round.According to reports, one of them had not even planned to enter the mixed doubles until just before the tournament began. But the decision paid off, as the pair went all the way without dropping a set in the final.Verbeek's win was already a big moment in his career — but by turning it into a surprise celebration for his father, he made it even more memorable for everyone watching.- Ends
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