Teenager Coco Gauff has fired up Wimbledon but on Friday she made 66-year-old former soldier Brian Connor and his fellow Chelsea Pensioners especially happy.
Connor, who reached the rank of Sergeant-Major after 23 years service largely in the Intelligence Corps, and his fellow scarlet-coated former servicemen made sure they got their share of photographs with 15-year-old Gauff following her courageous three-set win in her third round match.
The Chelsea Pensioners, who total around 300, both men and women and reside at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in a fashionable area of London, are a traditional presence at Wimbledon as well as home matches for Chelsea football club.
Connor, whose military service took him to Northern Ireland and Hong Kong as well as other foreign destinations, told AFP he is more a general sports fan numbering tennis, football, rugby and cricket amongst his favourites.
However, his highlight for the day was to watch Gauff on Centre Court.
"There is obviously a lot of hype around her and her age and the fact she did well against Venus Williams," said Connor.
"But it is great to see the future at that age competing with seniors who were youngsters themselves once and seeing what the next generation will be like."
"I will have a lot of competition!
"Actually I am in a difficult position because I am a Spurs supporter. "Being a Spurs supporter in the Royal Hospital Chelsea does not go down well."
- 'Young Man' -
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"I hate being on my own sitting in the house watching TV making you feel that somebody is there but you are not watching it."
"The audience were so vociferous even other competitors were saying well done he (Thackery) has won it."
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