Wimbledon skirt man speaks: 'I thought I was going to be arrested'

'This kind of thing doesn’t happen at Wimbledon’, Chris Quinn says after tennis star identified him

Irish man Chris Quinn had to put on a white skirt when invited by four time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters to join her on court during her invitation doubles match at Wimbledon. Video courtesy: BBC /Wimbledon.com

The Wicklow man who was invited onto the Wimbledon court on Friday by Kim Clijsters has said he is going to put the skirt she gave him up for auction in aid of charity.

Chris Quinn, who is from Greystones, joined the four-time Grand Slam winner on court after he suggested she should make a "body serve".

Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Quinn said: "She asked 'who said that?' and immediately my friend pointed me out.

“I thought I was going to be arrested. This kind of thing doesn’t happen at Wimbledon.

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“It was on of those moments when you think maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Clijsters was playing in the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles with her teammate Rennae Stubbs.

Chris Quinn, who was invited onto the Wimbledon court,  by Kim Clijsters, said he is going to put the skirt she gave him up for auction in aid of charity. Photograph: Chris Quinn
Chris Quinn, who was invited onto the Wimbledon court, by Kim Clijsters, said he is going to put the skirt she gave him up for auction in aid of charity. Photograph: Chris Quinn

“Before I knew it I was down on the court and they were putting me into a skirt. I used to play American football, I’ve big legs - as you can see I’m a big guy! But I didn’t think about it, I just pulled it up and one of the other ladies got a white top for me.”

Mr Quinn, who is Captain at Greystones tennis club, tried his hand at the serve and managed to return the first one.

After the match was over he got his photo taken with Clijsters, but was shocked to see people were also queuing up to get his autograph at the concession stand too.

“It was great. Life is short, and it’s not many people who can say they got the chance to play at Wimbledon.

“I hear there is a thread on Twitter trying to get me over to play at the US Open, so you never know!”

Mr Quinn kept the skirt which Clijsters gave him and says he is planning to auction it off in aid of charity.

“My wife told me not to let it go to my head - you still gotta do the dishes!”

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey is an Irish Times journalist