Wimbledon Ball Kid Unwell: Incident and Key Questions Answered

It’s the kind of moment that stops a crowd mid-rally—a ball kid suddenly unwell, officials rushing in, and a brief silence before play resumes. On July 1, 2025, during a first-round match between Alex De Minaur and Roberto Carballes Baena on Court 18, a young ball kid needed urgent help in 32°C heat.

Date of incident: 1 July 2025 ·
Court: Court 18 ·
Temperature: 32°C ·
Umpire: Louis Boucharinc ·
Player involved: Alex De Minaur ·
Previous similar incident: 2022 – Jodie Burrage aids ball kid

The following table summarizes the key details of the incident and its context.

What is the bra rule at Wimbledon?

Wimbledon’s famous all-white dress code extends to underwear for both men and women. Female players must wear white bras and knickers. In 2023, the All England Club relaxed the rule to allow dark-colored undershorts or knickers for comfort during menstruation (YouTube report). There is no separate “bra rule”—the requirement is simply that all visible clothing, including bra straps, must be white.

The rule change reflects a growing sensitivity to player comfort, but the all-white tradition remains largely intact.

What do female tennis players do about their periods?

Many players wear dark knickers under white skirts to manage menstrual visibility. The 2023 rule change directly addressed this—previously players risked embarrassment if blood showed through white shorts. Some athletes, like Coco Gauff, have spoken publicly about using medication to delay periods during tournaments (YouTube report). The shift has made period talk more common in tennis.

Why are the ladies at Wimbledon wearing black knickers?

Starting in 2023, the All England Club relaxed the all-white directive to permit dark-colored undershorts and knickers. The change was made specifically to reduce anxiety about menstruation being visible through white clothing (YouTube report). High-profile players including Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff have been seen wearing black or navy knickers on court.

The change, though small, has normalized discussion of menstrual health in the tennis world.

What caused a Wimbledon ball kid to fall unwell?

The ball kid became ill during the Alex De Minaur vs Roberto Carballes Baena match on Court 18 on July 1, 2025. The temperature was 32°C (90°F), and video footage shows the umpire, Louis Boucharinc, noticing the ball kid was struggling and immediately calling for help (YouTube summary). A crowd announcement stated that Wimbledon was waiting for a replacement ball kid. The exact cause—whether heatstroke, dehydration, or another condition—has not been disclosed.

Heat and dehydration factors

• Court 18 is an outside court with no shade cover; temperature on July 1 was 32°C (YouTube)
• Ball kids run and stand for entire matches, often for hours without break (ESPN report)
• In 2015, a ball boy collapsed on the hottest day in Wimbledon history (35.7°C) and was stretchered off (ESPN report)

The pattern: heat-related ball kid incidents are not new, but they remain a recurring concern every time temperatures spike.

How did Wimbledon officials respond to the ball kid’s illness?

Umpire Louis Boucharinc acted quickly. He used his phone to call for a substitute ball kid and reorganized the remaining ball kids on court. The match was paused briefly while the unwell child was attended to (YouTube footage). No formal statement from the All England Club has been released as of early July 2025. The incident follows a 2022 episode in which player Jodie Burrage helped a ball kid feel better by giving them sweets (YouTube).

The incident underscores the gap between immediate reaction and systemic prevention.

Timeline of ball kid health incidents at Wimbledon

• July 2015 – Ball boy collapses on hottest day (35.7°C); John Isner calls it “very scary” (ESPN report)
• June 2022 – Jodie Burrage helps unwell ball kid during first round (YouTube)
• 2023 – All England Club relaxes all-white rule, allows dark undershorts (YouTube)
• 1 July 2025 – Ball kid collapses on Court 18; umpire calls for substitute (YouTube)
• 4 July 2025 – The Sun publishes full report; other outlets follow (The Sun report)

The timeline shows a pattern of recurring incidents without formal policy updates.

Voices from the incidents

“It was very scary.”

John Isner, commenting on the 2015 ball boy collapse (ESPN report)

“We are waiting for one ball boy to replace someone who is not feeling well.”

Court 18 announcer, 1 July 2025 (YouTube footage)

The contrast between the 2015 and 2025 incidents is telling: in 2015, the tournament faced its hottest day ever and took preventive measures (closing Centre Court roof, shading seating), but still a ball boy collapsed. In 2025, on a hot but not record-breaking day, a ball kid again fell ill. The question is whether Wimbledon’s protocols have kept pace with climate reality.

The cumulative evidence demands a shift from ad-hoc responses to structured safety measures.

Frequently asked questions

These questions reflect the public’s concern over ball kid welfare and the need for transparency.