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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Lisa McLoughlin

Hugh Grant hilariously dozes off at Wimbledon amid star-studded audience

Hugh Grant appeared to nod off during a high-stakes Wimbledon quarter-final on Wednesday, despite sitting front and centre in the Royal Box alongside Queen Camilla and a string of famous guests.

The Love Actually star, 63, was caught on camera seemingly taking 40 winks as Novak Djokovic battled it out with Flavio Cobolli on Centre Court in a tense opening set that ended in a tiebreak.

While the match kept most spectators on the edge of their seats, including Queen Camilla and former Prime Minister Sir John Major, Grant was seen slumped in his chair, with his eyes closed, seemingly dozing off beside his wife, Anna Elisabet Eberstein.

The moment, which was broadcast on BBC, tickled many at home, who took to social media to comment on the hilarity.

Taking to X, one commented: “The most Hugh Grant thing a Hugh Grant could ever Hugh.”

“Hugh Grant fell asleep during today’s Wimbledon broadcast. Unique,” another penned.

The actor pictured earlier in the day in the Royal box (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

“Hugh Grant flat out kipping at Wimbledon is the best thing I've seen today” a third added while another remarked: “This is the most Hugh Grant thing he could do.”

Another commented: “OMG is this real. I’m laughing my head off. I love Hugh”.

The moment came just hours after Queen Camilla arrived at SW19 fresh from an earlier engagement at Buckingham Palace.

She was joined in the Royal Box by her sister Annabel Elliot and met with Djokovic ahead of his match, telling the seven-time champion she had her “fingers crossed” for him.

Also in attendance was Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger. Royal family member Peter Phillips and cricketing legend Kumar Sangakkara were among the other high-profile attendees, along with Tottenham Hotspur CEO Vinai Venkatesham.

Elsewhere in the Royal Box throughout the week were tennis icon Roger Federer, cricket legend James Anderson and acting great Sir Ian McKellen.

Ahead of another day of action, Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have both provided new injury updates ahead of their blockbuster semi-final showdown at Wimbledon.

The seven-time winner and reigning men’s world No1 are due to clash on Centre Court on Friday for a place in the final at the All England Club, while defending back-to-back champion Carlos Alcaraz meets American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

Djokovic slipped and fell in awkward fashion on the baseline during the late stages of his eventful four-set quarter-final victory over 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday, appearing in pain afterwards before recovering to claim the final two points needed to reach a record 14th Wimbledon semi-final.

Meanwhile, Sinner’s straight-sets victory against American 10th seed Ben Shelton came despite an elbow issue sustained when he also slipped on the baseline on Monday during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov, in which he trailed by two sets before the Bulgarian 19th seed was forced to retire with a pectoral injury.

The Italian subsequently underwent a scan and cancelled a practice session to spark fears over a potential withdrawal.

However, he was later spotted in an elbow brace and wore a protective sleeve on his right arm against Shelton, appearing to suffer no lingering effects as he eased through into his second Wimbledon semi-final by a scoreline of 7-6 6-4 6-4.

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