Judy Murray says fellow spectator who ripped towel from grip of young fan ‘should be ashamed’ as US player vows to replace it

A US tennis player who tried to throw his towel to a young fan in the crowd only to spark an ugly tussle has launched a search for the intended recipient.

Jack Sock, the world No 18, threw his towel into the crowd after the unidentified boy gestured for it, but the souvenir was tugged from his hands by a man wearing a white hat, who was sitting in front.

Andy Murray’s outraged mother, Judy, tweeted:

Sock, who beat Christian Garin on court 8 on Tuesday, tweeted:

His appeal led to an immediate response from the US Open – “If you find out, we’d like to send him a US Open towel” – and the suggestion for the Australian Open and Roland Garros accounts to do the same“for a Slam sweep”.

The Australian Open replied straight away: “No sweat! Happy to chip in an AusOpen towel.”



The official towel maker for Wimbledon, Christy, has also offered him one if he can be traced.



Judy Murray said tennis souvenirs were an important part of encouraging enthusiasm and interest in the sport. “I know what it’s like for children and young people at Wimbledon and you know, I think the kid had caught it and the other guy just pulled it away from him, and I thought: ‘What are you doing?’

“I hope that somebody recognises him and comes forward with his name and that Jack Sock can give him a towel, and it was lovely to see Jack Sock offering to do that.”



She added: “You want the whole thing to be a wonderful experience and you don’t want anybody to be going home disappointed, so I think it was a lovely gesture from him and I hope he manages to find the guy.”



She recalled that Andy’s childhood wish was to get the autograph of his “absolute hero” Andre Agassi. “He would like literally be out there at the practice courts all day hoping to get the autograph, and he actually never managed to do it, and it had quite a big impact on him as a little kid.

“I think that is one of the reasons why he’s so good at staying behind and signing everything for everybody because of the experience.”

