In The Battle For Sexiest Sport, Tennis Wins Every Time

This air of transgression extends to mere mortals, too, with The Telegraph reporting in 2022 that the “Quiet Room” – an area with booths fitted with arm chairs and signs that can be flipped to say “occupied” – was being used for highly unofficial sporting action. Locals also complained of people having sex in tents while camping on Wimbledon Common ahead of the Queue opening, with some putting up signs saying, “Game, Sex and Match… NO THANKS. Anti-social behaviour such as drugs, booze and sex parties will not be tolerated. Police patrol this area regularly and you have been warned. Thanks for your consideration. Enjoy the tennis!”

It’s certainly not what you’d expect from spectators at one of sport’s most refined and rule-bound games. After all, it’s the only sport where the crowd must sit in silence during play, and when you aren’t allowed to move from your seat until the end of a game, a bit like you’re in the theatre. At Wimbledon, there’s also a dress code in place (no torn jeans, please) and a degree of gentility surrounding everything from the snacks (strawberries and cream) to the Queue (with a capital Q). It even extends to the players, who must wear entirely white uniforms.

So why the naughtiness? “It’s the clash of the two personalities that makes it sexy,”  shares Nina Parker, chef and avid tennis fan. “There is a lot to be said for the big four rivalry of Murray, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer. The battles they have fought over the last 20 years together have made the sport more exciting.”

“I think it’s down to the passion of the game,” agrees Fabio Molle, creator of the Functional Tennis Saber. “There’s passion on the court and off the court. They follow the sun and play in the best locations, and there’s a certain glamour to that – Monaco, Paris, even London – you have crowds with famous people, the Royal Box. Even the whites – it looks good!” It’s no wonder that the players themselves are hot for each other too. “You hear stories, definitely stuff goes on,” continues Molle. “They’re travelling and in hotel rooms all the time, but there are only certain weeks of the year when they’re all together for the tournaments.”