David Beckham praised by Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon
Sir David Beckham was praised by tennis star Aryna Sabalenka for staying in his seat as Wimbledon's Royal Box emptied out after the men's game finished on Monday.
Belarus's Sabalenka, 28, clearly appreciated Sir David's support after beating Serbian teenager Teodora Kostovic, 19, 6-2 6-3.
After her first round win, the world No 1 thanked the crowd for their support and then turned to the former footballer and said: 'Sir David, thank you for being here!'
Sir David, 51, had been in the audience with his mother, Sandra, sitting near his former nemesis Katherine Jenkins, 46; Ronan Keating, 49, and Mary Berry, 91, for the men's game between Jannik Sinner and Miomir Kecmanovic.
But they were later seen vacating their seats after Sinner's win, with people using the opportunity to have a toilet break and top up their drinks.
Sir David Beckham was praised by Aryna Sabalenka for staying in his seat as Wimbledon's Royal Box emptied after the men's tennis finished on Monday
Pointless host Alexander Armstrong and his wife Hannah Bronwen Snow, remained in their seats after the men's game and chatted with Sir David
Sir David intently watched the game while remaining guests were glued to their phones
The sportsman conversed with Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, while some of the seats surrounding them remained empty
Aryna Sabalenka thanked the crowd, with a special mention to Sir David, for staying to watch her play
Earlier, a packed crowd, including Sir David and his mother, Sandra, watched Jannik Sinner start his title defense with a five-set win against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanović
Sir David's son Romeo, 23, and his girlfriend Kim Turnbull, 25, were also on Centre Court, but they didn't have invites for the Royal Box.
Sabalenka and Sir David share a close, professional and personal friendship. The pair have teamed up for IM8, an elite health and daily nutrition brand co-founded by the football legend and health sciences company Prenetics.
After her win, Sabalenka praised her opponent Kostovic, saying: 'She brought a really good fight. She stepped in a little more in the second set.
'She pushed me a bit more. I'm happy I was able to close it in straight sets. I totally get it. Playing for the first time on Centre Court, it's a lot of pressure. But I'm pretty sure she'll deal with that much better next time.
'I think we all get nervous. It's just part of our lives. You kind of block that part of your brain and kind of try to focus on yourself. I think with experience I learned how to deal with nerves and expectations a bit better.
'I have to say for the first match I felt pretty good. I'll rate myself... let's say 8 out of 10?'
Before that, the crowd had been watching Jannik Sinner start his title defense with a five-set win 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-3 against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanović.
In the final match of the day, Novak Djokovic defeated Wu Yibing and, afterwards, caught up with Sir David and his mother.
David sat near his former nemesis Katherine Jenkins, 46 - it could have been a potentially awkward affair after he previously slated her in a leaked email about his failure to obtain an OBE
At one point, when Sir David turned toward the second row where Katherine was sitting to snap a selfie with his mum, the opera star turned away
Ms Jenkins' in the row behind Sir David could have been potentially awkward after he previously slated her in a leaked email nine years ago wondering why she was to get an OBE, but they did not interact.
In a series of leaked emails published in 2017, Sir David was alleged to have slammed the Welsh singer and questioned why she was awarded an OBE amid his own failure to secure a knighthood.
One email was alleged to have said: 'Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F****** joke.'
The opera star was awarded an OBE in 2014, for services to various charities and her travelling to war zones to entertain the troops. Sir David was formally knighted by King Charles III in recognition of his services to sport and charity in November 2025.
The hacked emails also suggested allegations surrounding his stance on the Scottish referendum and investing in loss-making companies to reduce his tax bill.
Sir David's representatives dismissed the claims at the time, stating that the emails had been 'hacked and doctored' from a private account.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
