When Your Tennis Commentary Career Comes with a Side of Creepy Fan Mail

By Lewis Barnett 13 August, 2025 6 mins read 152 Views

God, where do I even start with this one.

So apparently being a BBC tennis pundit now comes with the delightful bonus of having complete strangers flood your social media with unwanted attention. Naomi Broady - you know, Liam Broady's sister who does the Wimbledon coverage - spent nearly all of 2023 dealing with some guy named David Richardson who thought bombarding her with Facebook messages was somehow... romantic? I honestly don't get it.

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The Family Connection That Made Everything Worse

Here's where it gets really weird. Richardson, 39, didn't even start with Naomi. He went to school with her other sister Emma (there are three Broady siblings, apparently) and decided after all these years that he wanted to make a "positive impact" before asking her out. When Emma - quite reasonably - told him to get lost, this genius thought, "You know what? Let me try the famous sister instead."

Because that's totally how normal human relationships work, right?

The guy admitted he bought Selfridges vouchers and flowers for Emma on her birthday, Valentine's Day, and Christmas. Like some kind of deranged Secret Santa program that nobody signed up for.

Facebook Messages and Bizarre Paintings

Between January 18 and December 4, 2023, Richardson kept sending Naomi messages on Facebook. The court papers mention "multiple unwanted messages" plus "unwanted gifts, cards and paintings." Paintings! Who does that? I'm imagining some really unsettling portraits showing up at her doorstep...

When The Mirror tracked him down at his home in Stockport (poor guy probably wasn't expecting that), Richardson said he was "a bit out of practice with the girls... I've not been in a relationship." No kidding, mate. This approach isn't exactly going to change that situation.

Why Tennis Stars Keep Getting Stalked

This isn't even an isolated incident, which is honestly terrifying. Emma Raducanu - who's only 22, for crying out loud - was left in tears at the Dubai Tennis Championships last year because some creep followed her to four different tournaments. Four! The dedication these people have to being absolutely awful is mind-boggling.

That same stalker had cornered her in a coffee shop the day before asking for photos. Then there was another guy, Amrit Magar, who literally walked 23 miles to her house in 2022. Twenty-three miles. On foot. To harass a teenager.

The Legal Reality Check

Richardson pleaded guilty to harassment charges at Manchester Magistrates' Court last month. He's banned from contacting either Broady sister or visiting their homes while waiting for sentencing on August 18th. The court documents say his behavior caused Naomi "serious harm and distress," which... yeah, no surprise there.

A source told The Mirror it was "terrifying" for the family, but they were relieved the police actually took it seriously. Which is sad that we even have to say that, but here we are.

From Tennis Courts to Commentary Booths

For context, Naomi's had quite the career journey. Started playing at seven, made it to Wimbledon qualifying rounds in 2008, won her first senior title in Grenoble in 2009. She got wildcard entries, made it to second rounds at major tournaments, and transitioned into BBC commentary work in 2021.

Now she's dealing with this nonsense while trying to do her job covering tennis for Radio 5 Live and the summer Wimbledon broadcasts.

It's 2025, and women still can't have public careers without some random guy deciding they're entitled to their attention. Richardson's excuse that he wanted to "win her over" shows he fundamentally doesn't understand that harassment isn't courtship - it's just harassment with delusions of romance attached.

Hopefully the August sentencing sends a clear message, but honestly? These cases keep happening because the consequences aren't severe enough to deter this behavior in teh first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does playing on different surfaces affect tennis matches

Different playing surfaces have a significant impact on the style and pace of tennis matches. Grass-courts produce a game that is faster and favors big servers, as well as those with an offensive style. Clay courts produce a high bounce and slow the ball down, which is beneficial to baseline players who have a strong endurance. Hard courts offer a playing surface that is balanced, neither too fast or too slow. This rewards players who are well-rounded. The different surfaces require different strategies and can have a significant impact on match results.

What are the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis?

The four Grand Slams or Majors are the highest-profile events in professional Tennis. These include the Australian Open (held in January), the French Open (held in May and June), Wimbledon (held in June and Jul), and the US Open (held in August and Septembre). These tournaments have a rich history and are known for the high level of competition. They also offer significant prize money, ranking points, and a great deal of prestige. Grand Slams have long been regarded as the pinnacle of tennis.

What are the origins of tennis?

Tennis originated in 12th-century France, when monks played a game known as jeu de paume using their hands to strike the ball. With time, rackets came into play, and tennis evolved. The game was popularized by the European nobility in the 16th century. Tennis has seen many changes over the years, such as the introduction of lawn-tennis in the nineteenth century and the standardization of rules.

Who is credited with standardizing the modern game of tennis?

Major Walter Clopton Wingfield has been credited for standardizing tennis. In 1873 Wingfield invented a new version of tennis, called Sphairistike. The game was played on a grass hourglass court. Wingfield's game had a simplified scoring method and equipment that was similar to today's. This version of the game laid the foundations for modern lawn tennis rules. By 1877 the first Wimbledon Championships was held, cementing its rules and structure.

How has tennis evolved over the years?

Tennis equipment has undergone significant evolution since the game's early days. The original rackets used animal intestines for the string. As technology evolved, rackets became lighter and stronger by using new materials, such as carbon fiber, graphite, and titanium. The balls, which were previously made of hand-sewn rubber, have been replaced by manufactured rubber with a consistent bounce. This evolution allows for a much more dynamic and athletic style of play.

Statistics

The global tennis equipment market reached an estimated value of over 1 billion dollars, reflecting the sport's widespread popularity.
Graphite became a popular material for tennis racquets in the 1980s, with over 90% of professional players now using graphite or graphite composite racquets.
Lawn tennis, which evolved into the game we know today, adapted its point system from the jeu de paume, with theories suggesting its increments represent the face of a clock.
Since the Open Era began in 1968, allowing professional players to compete in the Grand Slams, the United States has produced the most Grand Slam singles titles across men's and women's competition.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) governs over 200 nations, indicating the sport's vast international governance structure and participation rate.

External Links

How To

How to Serve with Power & Accuracy In Tennis

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