BBC Wimbledon commentator Andrew Castle found himself in the midst of chatter after a lively exchange with legendary tennis player Andre Agassi during this year’s coverage. During a semi-final match between Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz, Castle’s interruptions caused a stir among fans and even prompted online critics to call for his removal from the final.
While Agassi was delving into some riveting analysis about risk-taking on the court, Castle’s focus was caught by the celebrity-filled Royal Box, which included big names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Rami Malek. Agassi tried to press on, telling Castle, “Don’t torture me,” when cut off yet again, this time to announce the presence of Nick Clegg in the stands. Agassi quipped, “People watching are watching for tennis, not for this.”
In the face of the public buzz, Castle has spoken up, stressing the good rapport between him and Agassi. “People took it all out of context,” he explained in a chat with Betway. He shared that after the match, Agassi sent him a text message highlighting what a fantastic time he’d had. Though Agassi’s remarks seemed critical, Castle insists they were all in jest. The laughter and banter they shared weren’t fully captured by the public transcript.
Castle also addressed claims that he fixates on celebrity attendees: “I didn’t mention any celebrities at all during the final,” he declared. This year’s final amassed a staggering 8.8 million viewers, even in the absence of a British competitor, he noted, underscoring the reach and power of the event.
In the end, Castle remarked, “You can’t keep everybody happy all the time,” adding that shifting the final to a later time had been a hit with audiences, drawing in viewers from both sides of the Atlantic.