THERE has been a happy ending for a young Irish tennis fan who had his hero’s towel snatched from his hands at Wimbledon.
The boy was tossed the towel by American player Jack Sock after his first round victory over Chilean Christian Garin on Tuesday.
Wimbledon viewers were left shocked after a man seated in front of the boy pulled the towel out of his hands - immediately causing outrage on Twitter.
But American 18th seed Sock has come to the rescue and after launching an appeal and has made contact with the fan, who is also called Jack.
“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 said after his victory.
Sock's agent, Mary Jane Orman, has now confirmed that the young Irish fan has made contact after the video of the incident went viral.
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 ??
— Jack Sock (@JackSock) July 4, 2017
"The boy messaged Jack directly on Instagram and is from Ireland," Orman said in a statement. "He is gone home now but Jack invited him to his matches and said he will send him a towel."
Among those who hit out at the man involved was Judy Murray, mother of Wimbledon winners Andy and Jamie Murray, who said he should be “ashamed” of himself.
"If you're the bloke in the blue polo shirt and hat, you should be ashamed,” she said.
If ur the bloke in the blue polo shirt and hat, you should be ashamed...... https://t.co/KlZ250NCQP
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) July 4, 2017
"You want the whole thing to be a wonderful experience and you don't want anybody to be going home disappointed.”
Murray, who coached both her sons as children, used eldest son Andy as an example of how devastating it can be to young fans to miss out on a hero’s signature or equipment.
"I remember Andy just wanted to watch the practice courts and all he wanted to do was get the autograph of Andre Agassi who is his absolute hero," she said.
"He would literally be out there at the practice courts all day hoping to get the autograph and he actually never managed to do it.
"It had quite a big impact on him as a little kid.
"That real disappointment that he hadn't managed to get what he really wanted and I think that's one of the reasons why he's so good at staying behind and signing everything for everybody because of the experience that he had."
