It was one of the hottest matches of the Wimbledon quarter-finals – on court and apparently off – but for Hugh Grant, it may have been just a little too warm and soothing.
The ever-dashing Love Actually star, 64, became an unlikely viral sensation this week after he was caught on camera nodding off in the Royal Box during the men’s quarter-final clash between Novak Djokovic and Flavio Cobolli.
Yes, while Djokovic and Cobolli were trading blistering shots, Grant was trading consciousness for a peaceful snooze, head tilted, sunglasses on and dreams possibly filled with tennis balls and polite applause.
The moment, of course, did not go unnoticed. BBC cameras captured the actor mid-slouch, just moments after he’d been spotted chatting amiably with Queen Camilla – which, let’s be honest, is probably exhausting work for anyone before lunch.
He had arrived at the All England Club with his wife, Anna Eberstein, both appearing in good spirits as they smiled, mingled and did all the necessary celebrity waving required in the Royal Box. But somewhere between “Hello Your Majesty” and “Advantage Djokovic”, the siren song of a padded seat and 26-degree heat proved too powerful.
BBC Sport couldn’t resist sharing the snoozy spectacle on social media, posting the clip with the caption: “It’s all got a bit too much for Hugh Grant,” along with the obligatory laughing and sleeping emojis. Predictably, the internet went berserk.
Outrage quickly rallied among the very-online tennis purists. “COBOLLI I think HUGH GRANT owes you a massive apology,” one dramatic viewer huffed, as if the actor had personally insulted the sport with a stray snore. Another lamented, “T**ts like him… don’t deserve [Wimbledon tickets]!!!” – bold words from someone tweeting from a beanbag chair.
But many others simply delighted in the absurdity. “Hugh Grant asleep in the Royal Box is the best thing I’ve seen at #WIMBLEDON this year!! I love this man!!” wrote one fan, while another quipped: “Now why Hugh Grant look like he’s asleep at Wimbledon; Someone wake up Hugh Grant, dude is out cold.”
To be fair, Wimbledon is as much about tradition and strawberries as it is about intense focus, and if anyone can pull off a mid-match nap in a suit and tie, it’s Hugh Grant.
No word yet on whether he dreamed of Queen Camilla offering him a lukewarm Pimms, or if he simply mistook Centre Court for a very exclusive in-flight lounge.
Either way, Wimbledon 2025 now has a new highlight: Hugh Grant, the man who slept through a tie-break and into our hearts.
Images: BBC Sports / Nine’s Wide World of Sports
