Wimbledon’s later stages haven’t lost any of their edge, and this time, it’s double the drama. Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool etched their names in history by becoming the first all-British team in 89 years to win the men’s doubles title. Their 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Rinky Hijikata and David Pel on Centre Court was clinical, but the win could have been soured by their opponent’s one mistake. Let’s find out what happened!

According to Express.co.uk, during the tense second set, with Cash and Glasspool leading, Pel came dangerously close to being defaulted after a moment that sparked déjà vu from Roland-Garros. Trailing and visibly frustrated, the Dutchman lashed a backhand after a shot from Cash had been called out. The ball flew toward a ball kid and missed their head by mere inches.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Had it connected, Pel’s fate could’ve mirrored that of Miyu Kato at the French Open earlier this year. Kato had accidentally struck a ball kid between points, prompting tears from the youngster and a swift disqualification for her and her partner, Aldila Sutjiadi, even though she insisted it was unintentional. Pel’s case was eerily similar. Realizing the near-miss, he immediately raised a hand in apology and walked over to the ball kid to express regret. The gesture was genuine, the intent clearly not malicious, and thankfully, no harm was done.

In the end, Cash and Glasspool closed the match on their own terms, no drama needed. The fifth seeds were steady throughout, winning 87 percent of their first-serve points and converting three of seven break chances to claim the Wimbledon men’s doubles title.

While code violations and fines are part of tennis, full disqualifications are exceedingly rare, especially at Wimbledon, where only one player has ever been defaulted in the tournament’s long history.

When Tim Henman Was Defaulted at Wimbledon

Tim Henman’s infamous moment came in 1995, when he was just 20 years old and playing doubles with Jeremy Bates. The pair were locked in a tense first-round match against Jeff Tarango and Henrik Holm that went into a fourth-set tiebreak.

After losing a crucial point on a net cord, Henman, in a flash of frustration, pulled a ball from his pocket and smashed it. The ball struck a ball girl in the ear with such force that she burst into tears, stunned and in visible pain. The crowd watched in silence as the moment unfolded.

Referee Alan Mills had no choice. Henman and Bates were immediately disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct, making them the first players in the Open Era to be defaulted at Wimbledon. During the post-match press conference, an emotional Henman said: “I was not happy at losing the point and was angry. I went to hit the ball hard. I’d looked to see if the linespeople were out of the way. It’s a complete accident, but I’m responsible for my actions.”

The next day, Henman made amends. He publicly apologized to the ball girl and to fans for his behavior, calling it completely out of character. To show his regret, he returned with a bouquet and posed for photos with the girl, planting a kiss on her cheek in a heartfelt gesture of apology.

Henman’s disqualification remains the only one in Wimbledon history, a line David Pel came dangerously close to crossing. But unlike 1995, this time, cooler heads prevailed and history was left untouched. Follow the Championships in real-time with EssentiallySports’ Live Blog updates.