Novak Djokovic did what Novak Djokovic does best at Wimbledon. The seven-time champion barely broke a sweat as he cruised past British wildcard Dan Evans in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 to reach the third round. With each swing of the racket, the Serbian reminded everyone just how good he is on grass. He completely shut down Evans, despite the Brit owning a rare head-to-head advantage after beating the Serbian on clay in Monte Carlo back in 2021. However, after the match, the BBC, which has broadcasting rights for Wimbledon, had to issue an apology. Why? Let’s find out!
While Djokovic was putting on a show on Centre Court, viewers at home had a different experience altogether. In the middle of the second set, with the 38-year-old up a break at 5-1, the BBC’s broadcast feed suddenly cut out. Fans could still hear the voices of commentators Sam Smith and Tim Henman doing their job. But instead of seeing Novak Djokovic dominate, the screen showed an empty studio chair with spectators wandering in the background.
That awkward shot lingered for about 30 seconds before switching to a view of a packed Henman Hill. That new angle stayed on screen for a surprising two and a half minutes, while the match continued off-camera.
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 14, 2024 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his men’s singles final against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Paul Childs
It wasn’t until Djokovic wrapped up the match that the BBC addressed the glitch. After his on-court interview, host Clare Balding took a moment to clear things up, saying, “Apologies for the technical issues we had earlier which meant that we lost pictures for a few moments. It was beyond our control. But we’re trying to fix it and it does at least mean we can continue to show you live tennis and we will certainly do that.”
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