Organizers emailed players asking them to show restraint and make sure to leave some food for others. Competitors receive a personal daily allowance of £90 to spend on food and drink at various specialist restaurants and a coach per player is allocated around half that amount. The scheme – integrated with accreditation labels – aims to ensure those preparing for big races don’t have to worry about bringing their sustenance to south-west London. However, it has emerged that many competitors treat the allowance more as a target than a cap, resulting in restaurants occasionally running out of certain items. One trainer walked away with 27 probiotic yogurts to shed his 90 pounds. The situation prompted the English club to contact all players – including legendary stars such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – asking them to look out for their colleagues. The email urges players to be more “judicious” in using the bonus. It is understood that the warning was not made to save costs, but to prevent players from running out of stores. The Australian Open experimented with offering players unlimited food, but the policy was abandoned after it was feared it had been exploited. Competitors and coaches at Wimbledon can pay for food by simply scanning their accreditation card. There are a total of six different shops that players can use, including two sandwich bars, two restaurants and two cafes. Competitors at Wimbledon usually gravitate to the Players’ Lounge, located next to Center Court, which includes a number of outlets, including a sushi bar. Of the top players, Djokovic is arguably the most careful with his diet, which consists mainly of vegetables, beans, white meat, fish, fruit and nuts. Preferring to eat gluten-free food, the Serb requested special deliveries at the hotel he was staying at during the Covid vaccination controversy at this year’s Australian Open. He reportedly ordered a personal chef during the disaster. Nadal could also struggle if he relied solely on Wimbledon’s restaurants. Seafood is known to make up the majority of the Spaniard’s diet, with steamed fish and shrimp pasta among his favorite dishes. Both are a good source of protein for the dedicated gym player. Organizers currently have no plans to change the cap.
