Wimbledon on the ‘beat’

Wimbledon is beefing up its security ahead of the Championship starting next week. The All England Club are afraid of activists raiding the hallowed grounds with recent protests disrupting the second Ashes test between England and Australia, various Premier League football matches, rugby and snooker championships over the past months.

The club has been working in partnership with specialist agencies and the Metropolitan Police ahead of next week. Operations director at the All England Club said on Thursday.

"Based on what has happened at other sporting events, and on the advice from our key partners, we have reviewed our security plans, which have now been uplifted for The Championships accordingly,"

They are also warning players not to “try a Jonny Bairstow” - the English cricketer who tackled the ‘Just Stop Oil’ protester during the second Ashes test match if protesters attempt to spray orange paint over Centre Court.

Personally, we’d love to see them mess with Kyrgios on centre court.

Swiatek pulls out sick

Iga Swiatek made her first grasscourt semifinal in Bad Homburg, but had to withdraw due to fever and possible sickness. With 3 days out from Wimbledon we hope that bad bratwurst doesn’t linger to long.

Swiatek said on her instagram: "I'm not able to perform today and I need to take care of myself. I hope I'll be fine soon. Your support in Bad Homburg was amazing, thank you. It was a pleasure to play here. And I hope I will be back."

Swiatek is the number one seed on paper for Wimbledon, but there’s been question if this should be so on grass. It’s the surface where she has had her worst results. But she is upbeat about her adaption to grass after her Roland Garros Open win and is coming off a 10 match winning streak. What we can say… don’t count out the Swiatek.

5 lives for Eubanks

Meanwhile in Mallorca, Chris Eubanks saved five match points to reach his maiden ATP Tour final.

The American survived a three-setter nail-biter against Lloyd Harris 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(9) after two hours, 18 minutes. Eubanks came from the brink at 0/40 down while serving at 4-5 in the decider and saved another two more match points in the final-set tie-break.

The former Georgia Tech University graduate is having a stellar season and has risen 27 places in the last week to hit the world’s top 50. His big serve, and big forehand will definitely be striking some fear for his opponents for the next week’s Championships.

He will play Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who is having a strong grasscourt season, in the final.

Freshly squeezed results

What were the juicy match results and upsets of the day?

ATP
Mallorca (Semifinals) - C. Eubanks b. L. Harris 4/6 6/3 7/6

WTA
Eastbourne (Semifinals) - M. Keys b. C. Gauff 6/3 6/3