The agent of American tennis star Jack Sock has confirmed that a young Irish tennis fan has been in touch to say he lost out on the player’s towel following a tug of war with an older man at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
World No 18 Sock made an appeal on social media after video emerged of the boy losing out to a man seated in the front row on Court No 8 at the All-England club.
Sock had just beaten Chile’s Christian Garin in a first-round match, before throwing his towel towards the crowd, an age-old custom at tennis tournaments.
It looks like the boy reached out to Jack Sock and will get his towel after all. #USOpen towel coming his way as well! pic.twitter.com/6nb42Inmd1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 5, 2017
Jerk old man stealing a thrown towel of Jack Sock's from a kid after R1 match at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/9THaBBBOwQ
— Mark Schultz (@risendevil) July 4, 2017
Although it was not obvious from the video who Sock intended to throw the towel at, the player made clear his intentions after the incident went viral.
Sock tweeted: “If anyone knows the kid that unfortunately had the towel ripped out of his hands . . . tweet his name at me and I’ll be sure to get him one.”
Sock’s gesture was followed by offers of towels from the other three Grand Slam tournaments and also from Christy, the official Wimbledon towel maker.
Sock’s agent confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the young fan had been found.
Mary Jane Orman said in a statement: “The boy messaged Jack directly on Instagram and is from Ireland.
“He is gone home now but Jack invited him to his matches and said he will send him a towel.”
