Serena Williams ignored the Centenary of Center Court after Wimbledon officials allegedly refused to let her keep her five replacement cars for the entire tournament.
Sunday’s event brought together the great and the good of the tennis world, including Roger Federer who had flown in to take part in the ceremony.
But despite playing at Wimbledon that week, the seven-time women’s champion was nowhere to be seen.
Williams was reportedly disappointed by Wimbledon’s decision not to allow her to use the five replacement cars supplied by the All England for the duration of the tournament.
Williams allegedly requested the use of five vehicles for herself, her husband, her sister and mother and her coach.
While regular players are assigned a single car, some top players are given an extra vehicle for their coach, although Federer is one of the few believed to have five cars at his disposal during the championships when he competes.
A Wimbledon source said Serena was disappointed when Wimbledon turned down her request to extend the use of the cars beyond the normal 24-hour limit. after a player is eliminated†
“She wanted to use the cars for the whole two weeks because that’s what happens at the other grand slams. She was told that wasn’t possible because they had to be used by the other players. She wasn’t happy. Maybe that’s why she refused to participate in the centennial parade.”
Journalists who asked why, given her status in Center Court history, Williams was not present were told she had “gone home,” leading to the assumption that she had returned to Florida.
However, on Sunday evening, she posted photos to social media of herself and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, at the Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park.
Meanwhile, she was at Sketch restaurant in Mayfair on Tuesday evening with her husband and the couple’s daughter, and later at the premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder in Leicester Square.