Wimbledon 2026: Sachin Tendulkar graces Royal Box during men's semi-final
London, July 10
Sachin Tendulkar once again proved to be one of the biggest attractions at Wimbledon as India's legendary former cricketer headlined a glittering list of sporting icons in the Royal Box on Friday while watching Alexander Zverev defeat Britain's Arthur Fery to reach his maiden men's singles final at the All England Club.
Welcoming the former India captain back to Centre Court, Wimbledon shared a picture of Tendulkar on X and wrote, "Cricket royalty returns to the Royal Box. Welcome back to Wimbledon, Sachin Tendulkar."
Star Sports shared a post on X, highlighting a live television broadcast where a commentator referred to him as "the greatest batsman of all time," while the cameras focused on him enjoying the action.
Tendulkar was part of a distinguished sporting gathering in the Royal Box. He was joined by former West Indies captain Brian Lara, with the two batting greats sharing the spotlight after years of being fierce international rivals and later teammates in several charity matches. Current India Test captain Shubman Gill also attended the semi-final, adding another touch of cricketing royalty to Centre Court.
The Royal Box also featured football stars, including Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, while Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe was among the notable guests at Centre Court.
On court, Zverev ended Fery's dream Wimbledon run with a clinical 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-4 victory in two hours and 14 minutes. After edging a tight opening set through a dominant tie-break, the French Open champion took complete control with his powerful serving and aggressive baseline game.
The victory sends Zverev into his first Wimbledon final and his fifth Grand Slam title match overall. He also became only the third German man in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon final after Boris Becker and Michael Stich.
Despite the defeat, Fery's remarkable run captivated British fans. The wildcard reached his maiden Grand Slam semi-final after defeating Damir Dzumhur, Otto Virtanen, Zizou Bergs, Grigor Dimitrov and Flavio Cobolli, a breakthrough campaign that is set to lift him to World No. 36 in the ATP Live Rankings.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So proud to see Sachin Tendulkar representing India at Wimbledon! The world calls him the greatest batsman and he's showing that Indian sports icons are respected everywhere. Good luck to Zverev in the final – he deserves it after that performance.
Cricket and tennis coming together at Wimbledon – brilliant! Sachin and Brian Lara together in the Royal Box brings back so many memories of their epic battles. But honestly, I'm more excited about Arthur Fery's run – a wildcard reaching the semis is incredible 🇮🇳🎾
Look at the star power in the Royal Box! Sachin, Brian Lara, Shubman Gill, and Virgil van Dijk – what a mix. 🏏⚽🎾 Zverev is a beast on grass now, but Fery's story is what Wimbledon is all about. The British crowd must have been buzzing!
Fair play to Sachin for always supporting other sports. He's a true global ambassador for India. But I wish we had more Indian tennis players at this level to inspire the next generation. Still, great to see our cricket icons being celebrated internationally!
Sachin Tendulkar in the Royal Box is like seeing a king among royalty! 👑 And Brian Lara – two legends who defined my childhood. Zverev's serve was unstoppable today, but Fery's journey to the semis is the real story. That's what makes Wimbledon magical!
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