Novak Djokovic makes special request after 'high-risk' Wimbledon proposal

Love was in the air on the first day of Wimbledon with one couple getting engaged during Novak Djokovic’s opening match on Centre Court.

As Djokovic and his opponent Wu Yibing took a breather after the conclusion of the first set, cheers could be heard from one corner of the arena.

BBC presenter Clare Balding was initially oblivious to the jubilant scenes but Djokovic was seen making a heart with his hands as play was about to resume.

The tennis legend, bidding to win a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, then turned to the couple and could be heard saying: ‘I want an invitation to the wedding!’

It was only then that BBC commentator Andrew Cotter and tennis legend John McEnroe clocked that a proposal had taken place at the All England Club.

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The cameras soon picked up the newly-engaged couple who appeared to grant Djokovic his wish of a wedding invite before celebrating their engagement with a kiss.

‘Novak has just said he wants an invitation to the wedding!’ three-time Wimbledon champion and seven-time Grand Slam winner McEnroe said.

‘Apparently this lady was just asked if she would marry this gentleman. It’s quite a moment for these two!’

As the couple continue to revel in a successful proposal, commentator Cotter added: ‘Alright, concentrate on the tennis, everyone!

‘That’s a high-risk strategy, isn’t it? Asking that question on Centre Court at Wimbledon…’

McEnroe then added: ‘He probably mentioned it beforehand… he probably said, “if by some chance I decided to do this, what would you say?” just to make sure.’

Djokovic was in high spirits at the time of the crowd distraction as he had just begun his Wimbledon campaign by winning the first set 6-4.

But Wu, ranked No. 99 in the world and a player who has never won a match at Wimbledon, threatened to mount a comeback as he levelled in a tie-break.

The Chinese star continued to trouble Djokovic but the tennis legend’s class eventually told in a fairly draining 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory.

Speaking in his on-court interview, Djokovic said: ‘It’s not the first time that I’m showing and talking about the significance of Wimbledon in my career and my life.

‘It felt really challenging today, Wu deserves a round of applause for his incredible performance. As for how I’m feeling, I’m feeling happy but not the freshest I guess. It didn’t feel like the first round to be honest.

‘He put me under a lot of pressure. I’ve never faced him before; I knew that he loves hitting the ball very flat and very aggressively from the back of the court and he loves protecting the line.

‘But he definitely surprised me with the level of every shot he had in his game from his return serves, forehand, backhand and at some point he didn’t really have a weakness.

‘Playing on this surface, this kind of matches are decided in few points and few shots. Thankfully I have the experience of the last 20 plus years of playing on this court that can help me a little bit and manage the situation.

‘It would be nice to combine the experience with a young fresh body – that would be the winning formula.’

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