American tennis star Ben Shelton found himself defending his sister Emma after Wimbledon spectators jeered her during his post-match interview on Court No 1 on Saturday.
The 10th seed had just secured his place in the fourth round with a commanding 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over Marton Fucsovics.
The atmosphere shifted when Shelton mentioned his sister's employer whilst discussing his support team following his victory.
"She works for Morgan Stanley, so if anyone has any connections who can get her an extra couple of days off so we can keep this rolling," he said, prompting pantomime boos from the crowd.
American tennis star Ben Shelton found himself defending his sister Emma after Wimbledon spectators jeered her during his post-match interview on Court No 1 on Saturday
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The 22-year-old immediately responded to the negative reaction, pleading: "Ay ay ay! Come on now."
Shelton had been acknowledging his family's presence during the interview, noting: "It's not just been me here, I have a great team.
"My parents are here, my girlfriend's here. Also, my sister's here. She's been here for every match I've played. She's been the lucky charm.
Ben Shelton's sister got the week off amid the Wimbledon star's quest for glory
"But she has work back in the US starting Monday."
It was at this point he made his request for assistance in securing additional leave for Emma, who previously competed for the Florida Gators' tennis teams and represented the state at university level.
His dominant performance against Fucsovics matched his best Wimbledon showing to date, with the victory setting up a fourth-round encounter.
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The hostile reception appeared to target the financial institution rather than Emma herself.
Morgan Stanley has attracted criticism in recent years over various controversies, including allegations of mishandling client data and failing to meet anti-money laundering requirements.
Emma, who like her brother played tennis at a competitive level during her youth, seemed unfazed by the crowd's reaction.
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She took to Instagram to share her response to the incident, posting a celebratory video with the caption: "Update: She got the week off."
Her social media post confirmed she had successfully secured the additional leave from her employer, ensuring she could remain at SW19 to support her brother's campaign.
Shelton's successful plea means Emma will be courtside when he faces unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego on Monday.
Ben Shelton has matched his best run at Wimbledon after making the fourth round
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The American holds a strong record against his next opponent, having won three of their four previous encounters.
The fourth-round clash represents another opportunity for Shelton to progress deeper into the tournament, with a quarter-final berth at stake.
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