Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Hugh Grant, Celebrity, Wimbledon, Sport, UK News
Rhianna Benson
Any tennis fan knows that grand slam matches can roll on for several hours, with the biggest and best in the business pitted against one another.
That said, it is generally expected that attendees to Wimbledon in London - tickets for which are like gold dust, and can cost an arm and a leg to attain - will remain perched on the edge of their seats the entire way through the nail-biting tournament.
But this might prove pretty tricky after endless amounts of strawberries and cream, and gargantuan glasses of Pimms.
Such was a battle seemingly endured by Hugh Grant this week, with the much-loved actor spotted 'dozing off' midway through a Centre Court set between Italy's Flavio Cobolli and Serbia's Novak Djokovic.
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And even more scandalously, he'd been seated in the highly sought-after Royal box, an area of the stadium frequented by the likes of Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton, politicians and world leaders, and only the highest-profile celebs.
In a clip shared by BBC Sport, the 64-year-old could be seen sitting beside his wife Anna Eberstein in a pair of sunglasses.
He could also be seen sinking into his seat and leaning slight to the right with a downturned expression on his face.
"It's all got a bit too much for Hugh Grant," the sport broadcaster joked in the caption.
Unfortunately for the Love Actually front-man, however, his sleepy antics haven't gone down too well with some sports fans tuning into the tournament from their living room sofas, many of whom accused him of taking advantage of his fame to bag the tickets.
"One of the most expensive naps I’ve ever seen," one hit out.
"What a waste of a ticket!" a second added.
"People have been queuing since 3am to get into Wimbledon to have a chance of being able to be at this match or even to watch it on the big screen in the grounds," another penned. "And Hugh Grant slept through the tie break. Frankly, I think it is rude."
Others took aim at the Notting Hill star for who he was falling asleep on.
"Falling asleep during a Djokovic match is disrespectful af," one wrote online.
Thankfully for Grant, however, some spectators were able to see the funny side in the movie star's snoozing.
"Can't blame the guy," one fan jibed. "Tennis is boring to watch."
Another added: "It’s OK I’m sure he isn’t the first person to fall asleep there."
A third simply responded to the clip: "Mood."
Tyla has contacted Grant's representatives for a comment.