Author: Sean Ingle

In the fevered environments within sporting arenas, anything that can help an official has to be a good thing

We are all suckers for a good story. And there was certainly a cracking two‑parter at Wimbledon this year. First came the news that 300 line judges had been replaced by artificial intelligence robots. Then, a few days later, it turned out there were some embarrassing gremlins in the machine. Not since Roger Federer hung up his Wilson racket has there been a sweeter spot hit during the Wimbledon fortnight.

First the new electronic line-judging system failed to spot that Sonay Kartal had whacked a ball long during her match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – which led to the Russian losing a game she otherwise would have won. Although, ironically, it happened only because an official had accidentally switched the system off.

Double champion unlikely to be at SW19 this year but is enjoying helping Britain’s next generation of tennis players

Andy Murray has always had a way of creating alchemy on a tennis court. But, even in retirement, he is discovering new tricks. For more than an hour he has little kids from West Byfleet junior school transfixed as he coaches them through the joys of mini-tennis. There are swings and wild misses, gentle advice and high fives. In fact Murray is so locked in, he even makes his familiar power-exhale noise while he gently lifts the ball over a tiny net.

In short, he is a natural – even if he doesn’t quite see it that way himself. “I think they were just buzzing to get a few hours out of the classroom to be honest,” he says, typically self-effacing, as he chats during a quick break. “But it’s great. I love seeing kids on a tennis court having fun.”

• All England Club to recognise retired double champion

• Statue will also mark 150th anniversary in 2027

Sir Andy Murray will enjoy a permanent legacy at Wimbledon after the All England Club announced they would be unveiling a statue in his honour at the 2027 championships.

Debbie Jevans, the chair of the AELTC, said that the club had been working closely with Murray and his team and would reveal the sculpture at the championship’s 150th anniversary in two years’ time.

• Man given restraining order in Dubai on ticket waiting list

• All England Club employs fixated threat specialists

Emma Raducanu’s stalker has been blocked from buying tickets for the Wimbledon Championships this month in the public ballot, it has emerged.

Security staff at the All England Club discovered that the man, who has never been named, was on the waiting list when they did a re-sweep of the ballot, after he was given a restraining order in Dubai in February.

• ‘I just have to manage it,’ Briton tells reporters

• Prize money for WTA 500 event to be £1m

Emma Raducanu has admitted she is unsure how her body will hold up to the rigours of the grass court season after another back spasm in ­training. The 22-year-old’s latest injury ­concern came as she was preparing for the first women’s tournament at Queen’s Club for 52 years, and left her unable to practise for several days.

It was Raducanu’s second back spasm in three weeks, after initially experiencing the problem against Danielle Collins in Strasbourg a week before the French Open, and as a result she goes into the Queen’s Club event with low expectations.