July 5th 2024.
Carlos Alcaraz is currently the reigning champion in the men's singles at Wimbledon. His highly anticipated match against Frances Tiafoe was suddenly interrupted on a Friday afternoon in 2024 when a champagne bottle cork unexpectedly flew into the roof of Centre Court. This unfortunate incident occurred at a crucial moment during the game, just as Tiafoe was about to serve for the set. The loud noise caused by the cork caused a momentary pause in play, but the players quickly resumed their intense third-round match in SW19.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that a match at this year's Championships has been disrupted by a champagne cork. In light of this, Rob Rand, the managing director of Lanson International UK and an official partner of Wimbledon, has offered some helpful tips on how to properly open a bottle without causing any disturbance. According to Rand, the key is to keep the bottle cold, as this not only enhances the taste, but also reduces the pressure inside the bottle, preventing a loud pop. He also recommends using a wine bottle cooler to maintain the ideal temperature of 6-8 degrees.
When it comes to actually opening the bottle, Rand advises carefully removing the foil and gently loosening the cage, while holding onto the cork and cage with one hand and twisting the bottle with the other. This will release the cork slowly and avoid any unwanted noise or spray. It is important to note that contrary to popular belief, one should twist the bottle, not the cork, to achieve a silent pop.
It is no surprise that over 150,000 glasses of champagne are raised during the Championships each year. In fact, Wimbledon's conditions of entry state that all corked bottles, including champagne and sparkling wine, must be opened before being taken onto the stands of any court. This is to ensure that the matches can proceed without any interruptions due to a cork flying off.
As the defending champion in the men's singles at Wimbledon, Carlos Alcaraz has a lot at stake this year. After his epic victory against Novak Djokovic in last year's final, he is determined to add another Grand Slam title to his name and achieve a Channel Slam by winning both Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year. With his impressive skills and determination, Alcaraz is definitely one to watch out for in this year's Championships.
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