Aryna Sabalenka was recently criticized for shaking a water bottle in the direction of a ball boy.GETTY IMAGES
All England Club Commercial & Media Dir Mick Desmond said that the tournament is "prepared to take action against players who behave badly" toward ball boys and girls and "plans to discuss the matter with representatives of men's and women's tennis," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The subject became a "hot topic" last week after Spaniard Fernando Verdasco was "pilloried on social media for appearing to berate a ball boy for not bringing his towel quickly enough at the Shenzhen Open." Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka also "drew online criticism for shaking an empty water bottle in the direction of a ball boy in Beijing last week before tossing it to the floor." Roger Federer, himself a ball boy in his youth, said that players "needed to respect the kids, who are all unpaid volunteers at Wimbledon." Desmond, speaking to reporters at the Leaders Sport Business Summit, said that Wimbledon "expected mutual respect by everyone at the tournament, from players to cleaners." He said, "There is a code of ethics at Wimbledon. I think there is more respect shown because I think there's a sense of expectation of that. But a ball boy or ball girl getting shouted out for not throwing a towel back ... the players clearly know what's expected of them and what's not and Wimbledon is not afraid to fine players, whatever their standing" (REUTERS, 10/10).
