ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Extremely painful moment bloke in Wimbledon crowd is hit in the crotch by a 96mph serve
Home>News>Sport
Published 15:34 12 Jul 2024 GMT+1

Extremely painful moment bloke in Wimbledon crowd is hit in the crotch by a 96mph serve

The Wimbledon match featured Tommy Paul and Alexander Bublik

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Having a 96mph serve getting fired at your tennis balls at Wimbledon is really not the one.

The extremely painful moment was captured on live TV as Tommy Paul took on Alexander Bublik in the third round of Wimbledon earlier this month (5 July).

And it was the American 12th seed who came out on top against Kazakhstan’s Bublik in three straight sets.

However, during the match, Paul hit his opponent with a rather out-of-control serve - which landed straight into Mel Merrett's nuts.

Advert

Ouch (BBC)
Ouch (BBC)

The 51-year-old was watching court-side when BBC cameras caught the ball smashing off the grass into his crown jewels.

Speaking to The Sun, the father-of-two said: “I’d just started to relax and spread out a bit.

“Everyone around me was cheering the point. No one except my friend really noticed I had been hit in my balls.”

As expected, the graphic designer from Orpington, South East London said it was an extremely painful experience.

“I was in so much agony I couldn’t even pick up the tennis ball,” he added.

“What made it worse is the BBC captured it live on TV, so all my mates have seen it.

“It’s still throbbing now.

“It’s certainly reduced many of my friends to tears of laughter despite my real tears of pain.”

Well, it seems that karma might have struck as Paul was then knocked out of the tournament just days later by Carlos Alcaraz.

The Spanish defending champion clinched a 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory on Tuesday (9 July) to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.

“I felt the difference playing on Centre Court and on Court One. The grass is different,” Alcaraz said.

“Obviously I feel like it was more sand on Court One than Centre Court. I don’t want to say holes.

The US tennis star has since been knocked out of the tournament. (BBC)
The US tennis star has since been knocked out of the tournament. (BBC)

“There were more matches on Court One than Centre Court, I had to adapt my game on that.

“I didn’t feel comfortable at all playing on Court One with the conditions on it. As I said, I had to adapt my game on it. I tried to play my best tennis on it.

“Yeah, I think at the end I found it, I found my best tennis and my good tennis just to feel comfortable on it.

“I know that there are going to be some matches that I’m not going to find my best tennis even though I have to try to win it.

“I think that’s what the big three did along their career.

“That’s what I’m thinking. When I’m not playing my best tennis, I’m going to try to find solutions just to be a bit better, just to beat the opponent.”

The tennis ace takes on Daniil Medvedev on centre court today (12 July).

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Sport, Wimbledon

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Recommended reads

Warning issued over Super El Niño as weather phenomenon with devastating global consequences predicted officially begins(Getty Stock Images)KSI opens up on 'tough few weeks' after announcing he is leaving SidemenRichard Pelham/Getty ImagesViewers baffled as World Cup commentary 'hacked' live on airJewel SAMAD/AFP via Getty ImagesKatie Price issues warning to Lee Andrews after 'strange behaviour' in prison revealedInstagram/@wesleeeandrews

Advert

  • Wimbledon star lifts up skirt in protest during dress code row after being questioned by umpire
  • Footage shows moment Rory McIlroy's wife Erica is hit by can of beer by fan in shocking incident
  • Brit ranked no.733 in world won't receive £99k prize money despite shock first round win at Wimbledon
  • Footage shows terrifying moment yacht is sunk by a pod of orcas

Choose your content:

3 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • (Getty Stock Images)
    3 mins ago

    Warning issued over Super El Niño as weather phenomenon with devastating global consequences predicted officially begins

    An El Niño weather event is confirmed for later this year

    News
  • Jewel SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Viewers baffled as World Cup commentary 'hacked' live on air

    Guy Mowbray and Alan Shearer weren't the only voices broadcasting out to millions.

    News
  • therealbuni/X
    2 hours ago

    World Cup fan dubbed 'worst pitch invader ever' after it went very wrong

    He was in attendance for the USA vs Paraguay match in Los Angeles.

    News
  • PA
    3 hours ago

    Mum of missing British toddler reveals results of new DNA test after US man claimed he might be her son

    She has never given up hope of finding her son

    News