Aryna Sabalenka paused her post-match interview on Wimbledon's Centre Court to acknowledge Sir David Beckham, who was seated in the Royal Box. The world No.1 had just defeated Serbian teenager Teodora Kostovic 6-2 6-3 to advance to the second round.
Sabalenka's Acknowledgment of Beckham
After thanking the crowd for their support, Sabalenka turned toward Beckham and said, "Sir David, thank you for being here." The Belarusian star also praised her opponent, calling her a future star of the sport. "She brought a really good fight. She stepped in a little more in the second set," Sabalenka added. "She pushed me a bit more. I'm happy I was able to close it in straight sets."
Beckham's Royal Box Appearance
Beckham attended Wimbledon's opening day with his mother, while his son Romeo watched from a different section of Centre Court. The former England captain shared the Royal Box with celebrities including Mary Berry, Ronan Keating, and Katherine Jenkins. Beckham's presence drew attention, with Sabalenka making a point to recognize him during her on-court interview.
Beckham's Controversial Past with Jenkins
Beckham's appearance alongside Jenkins was notable given a leaked email from 2014 in which he criticized her OBE. In the email, Beckham wrote, "Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F***ing joke." Jenkins later expressed hurt over the comments, saying Beckham never apologized. Despite this, both were present in the Royal Box without apparent incident.
Sabalenka's Performance and Reflection
Sabalenka rated her first match performance an 8 out of 10, saying, "I felt pretty good. I'll rate myself... let's say 8 out of 10?" She acknowledged the pressure of playing on Centre Court for the first time but expressed confidence in her ability to handle nerves. "I think with experience I learned how to deal with nerves and expectations a bit better," she said.
