Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ticked off another milestone in his remarkable sporting journey as he attended his first Wimbledon Championships, watching the men’s singles final from Centre Court alongside former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
The 15-year-old, who has emerged as one of India’s brightest cricketing prospects over the past year, described the visit to the All England Club as a memorable experience and an opportunity to observe elite athletes competing on one of the biggest stages in world sport.
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Speaking to JioStar before the men’s singles final between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, Vaibhav said he was eager to experience Wimbledon in person and learn from the intensity of a Grand Slam final.
“I’m here to watch the final match and see what the experience is like, watching live and observing how players perform in the finals. It should be a great experience,” he said.
Djokovic remains his favourite
Despite the rise of a new generation in men’s tennis, Vaibhav revealed that Novak Djokovic remains his favourite player. Having followed tennis for the past four to five years, he said both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal inspired him while growing up.
“I used to watch Nadal and Djokovic a lot. I really like Djokovic, but those were the two players I followed the most,” he said.
Asked which player from the current generation has impressed him the most, the young cricketer picked Jannik Sinner, praising the Italian’s dominant run through the tournament.
“I’ve really liked Sinner, the way he has dominated throughout the tournament. Hopefully, he wins today,” Vaibhav said.
Abhishek Sharma helped with the look
Vaibhav also shared a light-hearted moment when asked about his attire for the prestigious occasion. He credited fellow cricketer Abhishek Sharma for helping him get ready.
“I didn’t really plan anything specific. I just put on what I could find quickly. Abhishek helped arrange it, and here I am,” he joked.
The interview also featured another fun question about which cricketer he would choose as his tennis doubles partner. Without hesitation, Vaibhav picked his opening partner Abhishek Sharma.
“I’ve already mentioned Abhishek bhaiya. Since he is my opening partner, I would choose him here as well,” he said.
Indian cricket stars at SW19
Vaibhav’s visit highlighted the growing connection between Indian cricket and Wimbledon. Earlier in the week, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill attended the men’s singles semi-finals from the prestigious Royal Box, continuing a tradition of Indian cricket stars making appearances at the grass-court major.
The spotlight shifted to the next generation on finals day, with Vaibhav joining Yuvraj Singh, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma at Centre Court just days after India’s T20I squad concluded its tour of England.
For Vaibhav, the visit was about more than simply watching tennis. The teenager, regarded as one of India’s most exciting young cricket talents, viewed the experience as an opportunity to learn from champions outside his own sport. His admiration for Djokovic, support for Sinner and enthusiasm for witnessing a Wimbledon final reflected a young athlete eager to draw inspiration from excellence, regardless of the discipline.
