Latest news with #BBGs
Buzz Feed
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
I Went Down A Wimbledon Rabbit Hole And Found 13 Surprising Facts
Wimbledon's just ended for the year, the trophies are handed out, the strawberries are gone, and everything looked picture-perfect on TV. But the more I dug in, the more I realised there's a whole other side to this tournament. Behind the neat lawns, there's a bunch of quiet rules and odd little traditions that barely anyone talks about. Here's everything I found. There is a pineapple on the trophy and nobody knows why. Some say it's because pineapples were a symbol of wealth and hospitality in 17th-century England. Others think it's a nod to colonial explorers who flexed by bringing back 'exotic' fruit. Wimbledon's 'all white or go home' dress code. Wimbledon's dress code is basically Victorian-core gone wild. Players can't just wear white, it has to be blindingly white. Not ivory, not eggshell, not 'oops-it-was-in-the-wash-with-a-blue-sock' white. And if your outfit has a coloured stripe thicker than a centimetre? You're out. Why? Because back in the 1800s, visible sweat stains were a scandal, and pure white was the ultimate sweat-camouflage. Yes, there are nail techs at Wimbledon. I used to think Wimbledon is just stiff upper lips and grass courts? Well, I just learned something shocking. Behind the scenes, players are out here getting manis, pedis, blowouts, and beard trims like it's Fashion Week. There are full-on beauty services available on-site, and yes, they're booked. The grass gets mowed daily to 8mm. The lush green courts? Yeah, those are mowed every single morning to exactly 8mm. Not 7.5, not 8.2—exactly 8. A full team of groundstaff babies that lawn year-round like it's the Queen's front yard. And while it used to be a blend of grasses, now it's 100% ryegrass because apparently, even grass needs to be durable under pressure. The strawberries used for Wimbledon's famous strawberries and cream are carefully handpicked. Not just any strawberry gets into Wimbledon. Only Grade 1 English strawberries from Kent, picked just the day before, are allowed in. They're inspected, chilled, and served with cream like it's 1877, because that's literally when the tradition started. Oh, and fans eat about 2 million of them every year. A trained Harris's Hawk named Rufus flies around Centre Court each morning to scare away pigeons. Rufus even has his own Wimbledon security pass. Just wow. The ball boys & girls are trained like athletes. They're called BBGs (Ball Boys and Girls) and they don't just show up and wing it. These teens go through months of intense training, we're talking drills on how to kneel, roll, sprint, and throw with military-level precision. Honestly, the selection process is so intense, it's almost harder to become a BBG than a junior tennis champ. Umpires are told to avoid saying 'love' too loudly. Because of the crowd noise and the word's ambiguity, umpires are trained to say 'love' (as in 15–love) clearly but not dramatically, so it doesn't get mistaken for cheering or comments. The tennis balls are kept in refrigerated containers at 20°C. Tennis balls are switched every 7–9 games to maintain consistency in bounce. They are kept in a refrigerated container at exactly 20°C for optimal performance. And those old balls? Some are sold to fans in the Wimbledon shop as souvenirs. The men's trophy can't be kept. Unlike many trophies, the gentlemen's singles trophy stays at Wimbledon. The winner only gets a replica about 3/4 the size. The original cup has been awarded since 1887, and no player, not even Federer, has ever taken it home. Bees & foxes can interrupt matches. You'd think Centre Court drama would come from tie-breaks or broken racquets, but sometimes it's foxes strolling across the grass or swarms of bees crashing the party. Yep, wild animals have stopped play. Groundskeepers now do off-hour sweeps to make sure no unexpected guests have moved in. Centre Court got bombed during WWII. During World War II, a 500-pound German bomb hit Centre Court and destroyed over a thousand seats. The tournament was put on hold, and the club grounds turned into a civil defense hub with carparks converted into mini farms to grow food. Tennis took a backseat until 1946 because, well, there was a war going on. This Wimbledon court got such a bad rep, they rebuilt it and renamed it. Court Two at Wimbledon was so infamous for top seeds getting knocked out early, it earned the nickname 'The Graveyard of Champions.' Big names would walk in confident and walk out stunned. It got such a rep that by 2009, they renamed it Court Three and then fully rebuilt it in 2011, probably hoping the bad juju wouldn't carry over.
Wales Online
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wimbledon 2025 ball boys and girls' pay packet and big perk emerge
Wimbledon 2025 ball boys and girls' pay packet and big perk emerge They play a crucial role in the championships each year A ball boy looks on with number one court behind on day one of Wimbledon (Image:) The biggest stars in the world of tennis have once again descended on the iconic ground of Wimbledon for what many regard as one of the most prestigous tournaments in sport. At the heart of the action will be the legions of ball boys and girls, all of whom are vital to the smooth running of the competition at the All England Club. An estimated 250 youngsters are drafted in each year as what organisers affectionately refer to as BBGs, who are given the opportunity to rub shoulders alongside some of the biggest stars in tennis. According to the Express, some 1,000 youngsters apply for the role every year, with 170 selected from Year 9 and 10 pupils in local schools. A further 80 BBGs from previous tournaments are then asked to return for a second stint. The average age is 15, with Grey Court School in Richmond, Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith and Tolworth Girls' School in Surbiton some of the schools working with the championships. Article continues below The prestige of taking part in such an iconic competition is often enough to attract any tennis-mad youngster. But as well as the opportunity to be a part of one of the world's most famous sporting occasions, there are several other perks for those lucky enough to be selected. For one, BBGs are allowed to keep their iconic Ralph Lauren uniforms. Additionally, they are also paid around £200 for their work in order to cover expenses. Getting selected is something of a long process for many of the youngsters, some of whom have had their heart set on the role for several years. Last year, BBC Newsbeat spoke to two ball girls during the tournament to get some insight into what it's really like. Article continues below Ball girl Aashny explained: 'I've wanted to do this since I was in Year 7. We started training and each week certain people would get through to the next round. It's a long selection process. 'The first time I went onto Centre Court was really special. I get to see loads of players and be around this atmosphere for two weeks.' And ball girl Saran added: 'I was always really nervous to go in. But I think the work has paid off. I have no idea who they (the players) are.'
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
What is the heat rule in Wimbledon and why is it in place?
Record-breaking temperatures are set to hit the 2025 Wimbledon grand slam tournament. The opening-day record of the past, 29.3C, was set in 2001, but that's expected to be broken now. The organisers have a heat rule in place for all singles matches. Wimbledon uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) scale to ascertain if the heat rule should be enforced. The WBGT's heat index is a measure that combines air temperature, humidity and surface temperature. It is measured by a heat stress monitor. If the WBGT is at 30.1C or higher, players will be permitted 10-minute breaks during a match. Only one player needs to request the permitted 10-minute break for it to be enforced. This rule won't be under use if the games are being played under roofs. WBGT readings at Wimbledon are measured 30 minutes prior to the start of play, at 2 pm BST and at 5 pm BST. For best-of-five-set matches in the men's singles, the 10-minute break will be enforced the end of the third set. In best-of-three-set matches, the heat break will be taken at the end of the second set. During breaks, players are allowed to leave the court but are not permitted to receive coaching or medical treatment. If a game has been carried over to next day because it couldn't be finished the previous evening, then the heat rule won't be applicable if they have already played a set in a best-of-three-set match. And it won't be applicable in a best-of-five-set-match if two sets were already completed the previous day. 'Adverse weather is a key consideration in our planning for The Championships, and we are prepared for the predicted hot weather, with comprehensive plans in place for guests, players, staff and the BBGs,' the All England Club said in a statement. Championships referee Denise Parnell explained: 'The heat rule will apply to all singles events at the Qualifying and Main Draw for The Championships 2025. These are the Gentlemen's Singles, Ladies' Singles, Boys' Singles, Girls' Singles, Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles, Ladies' Wheelchair Singles, and Quad Wheelchair Singles. The UK Met Office says the hottest day recorded during the Wimbledon fortnight came on July 1 in 2015, when temperatures soared to 35.7°C at nearby Kew Gardens
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Wimbledon 2025: Smelling of teen spirit ahead of the championships
People queue at the entrance on the first day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, June 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Wimbledon: It's the weekend before the Monday start to the most famous tennis championships in the world. A sense of quiet efficiency pervades the grounds: everything is in place. The landscaping has been perfected so that the combination of purple flowers and green creepers reflecting Wimbledon's iconic colours are in the right blush even as an Indian summer heat beats down on everything. As players and their entourages -- mostly in pristine white though some outliers are kitted out in all black -- go from practice courts to the locker room and back, all around are the young, strapping boys and girls, and their even younger and more famous counterparts: ball boys and girls. Fondly called the BBGs, and decked out in the famous Ralph Lauren outfits (which in the official merchandise stores retail for an eye watering price), they are the overwhelming presence at the championships. Hundreds of young people work the summer here manning everything from front desks to the merchandise stores and hospitality venues to the grounds. Chattering away in groups; going through the drills rolling out and rolling in the covers at the uncovered outside courts; practicing laying the net posts and measuring the height of the nets, they bring a vibrant, youthful energy to a tournament where the biggest stars are barely out of their teens themselves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Watched by millions worldwide, during the live transmission of the championships, the BBGs all make it look effortless but behind the scenes go through rigorous training. Getting to be a coveted BBG is a highly competitive affair. Only 250 make the cut from the 1000 who apply from the local schools and institutions. About 170 of the 250 are chosen from the 9th and 10th grade kids who freshly apply and the rest 80 roll over from the previous year. Average age is 15. Many spend two years on the job. Ubiquitous as they may seem, girls were inducted only in 1977 and made their Centre Court appearance in 1985. On Saturday, the most prized fixtures are to see defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner practice. Conveniently they are at two ends of the day. Morning sees Alcaraz hit the ball with the next big thing, the 18-year-old Brazilian star Joao Fonseca, at the red-velvet roped enclosures of Aorangi Practice Courts. Sinner comes out in the evening. Spanish is in the air as Alcaraz and Fonseca banter as they go through drilling their forehands/backhands, lobs and service to an awed audience. Jaun Carlos Ferrer, Alcazar's coach and Guilherme Teixeira, who trains Fonseca, keep a watchful eye. "I was excited about hitting with him, the last time I hit with him was in 2023," Alcaraz said of hitting with Fonseca, later at a presser. "He's not an experienced player on grass, but his style, he loves to play aggressive, to hit big forehands, go to the net. I'm pretty sure he's going to get the level on grass really, really soon," he added. One can't but help notice the difference in resources as your eye is drawn to two women players slugging it out in the very next court. They just have one coach each while the Alcaraz court has an entourage of 7/8 people. Adjacent, at the Aorangi arena, are other players mainly doing strength and mobility workouts. There's Coco Gauf using cones to get her footwork going, Zverev using bands and a few others work with medicine balls. 'Movement' is a word one hears often. Alcaraz talks about it and so does Sinner in their press conferences later in the day. It feels surreal at times to walk around the grounds and discover the gorgeous person ahead of you with her trainer is Emma Raducanu or the wavy-haired blonde young man is Alexander Zverev. Young kids with giant tennis balls have the best chance of snagging the coveted autograph as it's hard for the players to say no to tiny tots. So, every two step they have to stop to pose for a selfie with the grown-ups or bend down to sign autographs for the children. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Wimbledon's youthful buzz: Smelling of teen spirit ahead of the Championships
Jannik Sinner of Italy (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Before Monday's start to the world's most famous tennis championships, a sense of quiet efficiency settles over Wimbledon . Everything is in place. The landscaping is perfected so that the purple flowers and green creepers show off Wimbledon's iconic colours in just the right blush, even as an Indian summer sun beats down on the grounds. Players and their entourages, mostly dressed in pristine white with a few outliers in all black, move between the practice courts and locker rooms. All around them is an unmistakable sight — the young boys and girls who make up one of Wimbledon's most cherished traditions: the ball boys and girls. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Fondly called the BBGs, they stand out in their famous Ralph Lauren uniforms, which in the official stores retail at eye-watering prices. They are an overwhelming presence at the Championships. Hundreds of young people work through the summer here, manning front desks, merchandise stalls, hospitality venues and the hallowed courts. They chatter away in small groups, go through their drills, roll out and roll in the covers at the uncovered outside courts, practice setting up the net posts and measuring net heights. They bring a vibrant, youthful energy to a tournament where even the biggest stars are barely out of their teens. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like "척추관협착증 통증 때문에 걷기 힘들때"..."비수술치료"로 통증 개선 하세요! ort02a_강남정형외과병원 지금 예약 Undo MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand's road to redemption in America Watched by millions worldwide, the BBGs make their job look effortless during live broadcasts. But behind the scenes, they go through rigorous training to be selected and prepared. Becoming a coveted BBG is fiercely competitive. Around 1,000 kids from local schools and institutions apply each year, but only 250 make the cut. Of these, about 170 are new recruits from the ninth and tenth grades while around 80 return for a second year. The average age is just 15. Many spend two years on the job. It is striking to think that girls were inducted only in 1977 and made their Centre Court debut as late as 1985. On Saturday, the biggest draws for fans at the practice courts were defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Conveniently for those lucky enough to be there, they trained at two ends of the day. In the morning, Alcaraz hit with Joao Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian star many believe is the next big thing. Inside the red-velvet roped enclosures of the Aorangi Practice Courts, Spanish filled the air as Alcaraz and Fonseca laughed and chatted while drilling forehands, backhands, lobs and serves under the watchful eyes of coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Guilherme Teixeira. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? 'I was excited about hitting with him,' Alcaraz later said at a press conference. 'The last time I hit with him was in 2023. He's not an experienced player on grass yet, but his style is aggressive. He loves to hit big forehands and go to the net. I'm sure he will get the level on grass really soon.' Just a few steps away, the contrast in resources is easy to see. Two women players slug it out on the next court with just one coach each, while Alcaraz's practice area buzzes with an entourage of seven or eight. Nearby at the Aorangi Arena, other players focus on strength and mobility. Coco Gauff sharpens her footwork using cones while Alexander Zverev works with resistance bands and others lift medicine balls. The word 'movement' is heard often. Both Alcaraz and Sinner highlight its importance when they speak to the press later in the day. It feels surreal at times to walk the grounds and suddenly realise the player ahead with her trainer is Emma Raducanu or that the wavy-haired blond young man behind you is Zverev. Young kids carrying giant tennis balls have the best chance of collecting treasured autographs, as the players find it impossible to say no to tiny fans. Every few steps, stars pause for selfies with adults or bend down to sign for children. Everything at Wimbledon might look timeless and calm. But underneath it all, the grounds come alive with the energy of these young faces, who make sure every match runs perfectly — all while dreaming, perhaps, of their own Centre Court moments one day. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
