LONDON — The All-England Club is not concerned that supporters will miss Wimbledon due to England’s performance in the European Championship.

However, the rain tells a different narrative.

Wimbledon First-Week Attendance Slips Due To Rain

Rain disrupted play on numerous days at the grass-court Grand Slam, resulting in a 3.7% drop in Week One attendance compared to the previous year. Friday’s attendance was the lowest on a first Friday since 1998, omitting the pandemic-restricted 2021 tournament.

“This year’s weather has been so variable and so bad at times that I think at the moment our assessment is that it’s almost certainly the weather that’s impacting (attendance),” Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, said Monday as the tournament began its second week.

A total of 36,630 fans attended on Friday, when rain delayed the start of play by two hours and prevented matches from taking place on the outer courts in the evening. According to official tournament data, excluding 2021, that was the lowest for a first Friday since 34,945 in 1998. The corresponding figure from last year was 42,279.

Wimbledon might easily sell out in advance sales, but tickets are reserved for day-of sales for supporters in the famed Queue.

“It’s such an important part of the Championships, primarily to protect accessibility, and so we accept that in retaining the Queue, we are adding in some ambiguity about the numbers of people who get through on the grounds,” Bolton informed the crowd. “And of course the weather has been so terrible.”

The total for Week One this year was 282,955, which was 10,726 less than the previous year.

On Sunday, No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev stated that he “didn’t get to warm up today before the match because it was raining.” He played on No. 1 Court, which, like Centre Court, features a retractable roof.

If weather continues to hamper play this week, juniors’ matches could be moved indoors. Bolton explained that the competition has already cut the early rounds of mixed doubles to two sets and a tiebreaker.

Wimbledon First-Week Attendance Slips Due To Rain

England has advanced to the Euro 2024 semifinals and will face the Netherlands on Wednesday.

“I’m not concerned about a football impact,” Bolton remarked. “At this point I’m concerned about it still being raining on Wednesday.”

SOURCE – (AP)

John Cena declared on Saturday night that he will retire from professional wrestling next year after two decades in the ring.

John Cena Announces His Retirement From Professional Wrestling After 2025 Season

The wrestler-turned-actor delivered a passionate speech to a stadium full of World Wrestling Entertainment fans in Toronto, who booed when Cena announced that the 2025 season would be his last. He promised a farewell tour with dozens of shows, an epic final fight, and continued involvement with the wrestling franchise that launched his career.

“Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years,” Cena told the audience.

In a post-event press conference, Cena informed reporters that he is physically “at my end,” but it does not mean he should abandon the sport he loves.

Cena, a 16-time WWE champion, rose to prominence in the early 2000s as the fan-favorite “Doctor of Thuganomics,” a rapper dressed in gold chains and a backward hat who challenged his wrestling opponents to rap fights. He went on to play other well-known personas, both in the ring and on film.

John Cena Announces His Retirement From Professional Wrestling After 2025 Season

Cena had leading parts in the films “Blockers” and “The Suicide Squad.” He has made several cameos in the “Fast & Furious” trilogy and was most recently seen in the comic thriller “Argylle” and the box office blockbuster “Barbie.”

SOURCE – AP

John Cena, a US actor and wrestler, has retired from competing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events.

John Cena delivered the surprising statement to fans while performing at the WWE Money in the Bank event in Canada.

The 47-year-old, who began his acting career 18 years ago, announced that his final in-ring competition will be in 2025 as part of a farewell tour.

John Cena is widely recognized as one of the best professional wrestlers ever, having won world championships 16 times since joining WWE in 2001.

“Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” he informed supporters in Toronto. They were taken aback and then screamed, “Thank you, Cena.”
“What an incredible act of kindness,” he responded.

He thanked WWE fans for “letting me play in the house that you built for so many years” while wearing a t-shirt with the words “The Last Time is Now” and his trademark “jorts” [denim shorts].

In a subsequent press conference, he stated that despite feeling “at my end” physically, he hoped to remain a member of the WWE family in some form.

John Cena made his acting debut in 2006 with The Marine and went on to appear in several high-budget films, including The Suicide Squad, Fast & Furious 9, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Since his acting career took off in 2018, the star has worked part-time for WWE.

He made news this year for appearing naked, except for a carefully placed envelope, during an Academy Awards spoof.

The American is also the most desired celebrity by children through the charity Make-A-Wish.

He holds the Guinness World Record for the most wishes granted to Make-A-Wish youngsters with serious conditions.

Source: WWE