Andy Sent To The Tower Of London

Off with his head! Yesterday Andy trod on the cobbles of many famous and unfortunate people before him. Yet, we doubt he entered through Traitor’s Gate, or suffered the fate of being locked up or had to put his head on the block. Instead, Andy and Venus Williams, were escorted onto a specially constructed tennis court in the famous moat area surrounding the Tower of London, by the London Tower guards, the Beefeaters.

Andy and Venus, along with Bille Jean King, were there as part of the American Express Aces Challenge. In front of a crowd of invitees, Andy and Venus, umpired by Billie Jean King, played some exhibition tennis. The object of the day was for Andy and Venus to try and hit aces past each other whilst King provided the commentary. Afterwards, a lucky Daily Express competition winner had the chance to play with Andy and try to hit an ace past him. After two tennis correspondents from the Evening Standard and London Tonight had had their chance to impress against America’s stars, it was time for a photo shoot with kids from LTA and Tennis For Free charities.

The American Express Aces Programme was in action during the Australian Open, where $79,000 was raised. For every ace served on Centre Court and No.1 court throughout the Wimbledon fortnight, American Express will donate £50. This money and also the money raised yesterday will go to Tennis For Free and the Lawn Tennis Association. It will help to provide coaching equipment for schools throughout the United Kingdom, fund teaching programs, help open and renovate courts, and buy equipment to support development of tennis in the UK.