Shales ready to set record
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain's Jeremy Shales, who is scheduled to be in the chair for the mixed doubles final on Sunday, will set a new umpiring record at Wimbledon this year.
This will be Shales' 36th Wimbledon in which he has been in charge of matches. He first officiated in 1960 and, unlike many officials who only act as line judges in their early years, he was immediately made a chair umpire. "I had to miss the 1965 Championships for personal reasons," Shales said. "But that is the only one I have missed since 1960.
"The mixed doubles this year will be my ninth final. I umpired the 1978 women's singles, which was the first time Martina Navratilova won the title. Oddly enough, I also umpired her very first match at Wimbledon in 1973."
Shales also umpired the 1990 men's singles final when Stefan Edberg beat Boris Becker, and he has also umpired two men's doubles, three women's doubles and one mixed final.
How long can he go on? "Hopefully another 10 years," Shales says.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments