“Bit of a slip of the tongue”: BBC presenter reacts after awkward Wimbledon mistake

Wednesday, 08 July 2026 at 02:30

A BBC presenter was forced to apologise after making an awkward mistake while discussing Wimbledon during a live broadcast. Roger Johnson, who has worked with the broadcaster since the 1990s, made the slip while presenting North West Tonight and reporting on the latest events from the All England Club.

Johnson was discussing Liverpool-born Neal Skupski’s doubles campaign at Wimbledon alongside Christian Harrison, after the pair suffered a defeat against Aleksandar Kovacevic and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the

However, while describing the result, the presenter accidentally used the wrong word when attempting to say that the match was decided in straight sets.

Instead of saying “straight sets”, Johnson mistakenly said “straight sex” before immediately realising the error and correcting himself.

Roger Johnson’s Wimbledon slip sparks laughter during BBC coverage

The moment quickly attracted attention among viewers due to the unexpected wording, but Johnson recovered quickly and continued with the Wimbledon report. The incident came while discussing a notable doubles run for Kokkinakis, who has enjoyed one of the biggest successes of his recent career at the All England Club.

The presenter then acknowledged the mistake on air, explaining that his confusion came from trying to get through the players’ names correctly.

“Bit of a slip of the tongue. Straight sets, by Aleksandar Kovacevic and Thanasi Kokkinakis, I was so worried about the names of those tennis players, I made a right mess of that,” Johnson said.

Pride is over. pic.twitter.com/U2O9PVxjIx
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 6, 2026

Kokkinakis continues impressive Wimbledon doubles run with Kovacevic

While his name was involved in the presenter’s mistake, Thanasi Kokkinakis has been making headlines for the right reasons at Wimbledon. The Australian and Aleksandar Kovacevic entered the tournament as last-minute alternates and have reached the semi-finals after winning four consecutive matches.

Their campaign began with a three-set victory over Santiago Gonzalez and Maximo Gonzalez before producing three straight-set wins against Tristan Schoolkate and James Cash, Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski, and Nikola Mektic and Austin Krajicek.

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Kokkinakis, who returned to the Grand Slam stage after a difficult period that included surgery and almost a year away from competition, is now one win away from reaching another major final. The 30-year-old previously won the Australian Open doubles title in 2022 alongside close friend Nick Kyrgios, earning the first and only Grand Slam trophy of his career.

Four years after that memorable triumph in Melbourne, Kokkinakis has another opportunity to become a Grand Slam champion again. Standing in his way in the Wimbledon semi-finals will be the No. 1 seeded pairing of Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara.

Kokkinakis / Kovacevic – Wimbledon 2026 men’s doubles campaign

Round	Opponent	Score
1R	Santiago Gonzalez / Maximo Gonzalez	7-5, 6-7, 2-6
2R	[12] James Tracy / Robert Cash	7-6(4), 6-3
3R	[5] Christian Harrison / Neal Skupski	7-6(4), 7-6(5)
QF	[14] Nikola Mektić / Austin Krajicek	7-6(4), 6-3
SF	[1] Harri Heliövaara / Henry Patten	—

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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