Shortly after winning Wimbledon, a tennis player says he received devastating news of a family member’s passing.

British doubles star Neal Skupski, aged 34, announced after his opening‑round Wimbledon win (with partner Joe Salisbury) that he’d just learned of his grandmother Mary’s passing—right after stepping off Court 8. She was 98 and had been seriously ill, and Skupski said they’d “known it was a matter of time,” but it was still a “very tough day”

This emotional blow compounded earlier grief: the same day, he’d also taken in news of Liverpool star Diogo Jota’s tragic death in a car crash along with his brother André Silva
Skupski, a devoted Liverpool fan, struggled to stay focused amid both shocks, but said playing helped him cope.

He expressed that his grandmother “would be proud” of his fight and hinted he might wear a black armband in tribute at future Wimbledon matches

Speaking of black armbands: Wimbledon officials made an unprecedented move—relaxing the strict all‑white dress code to allow players to wear them, both for Jota’s loss and potentially for others affected by similar tragedies
Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral, who also heard the news mid‑tournament, confirmed he’ll wear one in his next match .

Summary:
Event Details
Neal Skupski’s family loss Learned of grandmother Mary’s death (age 98) moments after his Wimbledon win
Combined with other grief Same day, news broke of Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and his brother’s fatal crash
Emotional context Skupski described it as a “very tough day” and believes staying on court helps him manage
Wimbledon response Officials allowed black armbands—Skupski is considering wearing one in solidarity