Wimbledon has paid an emotional tribute to Mail Sport’s legendary tennis correspondent, Mike Dickson, by leaving his desk unoccupied this year.
Dickson, known affectionately across the sport as ‘Mr Wimbledon, died earlier this year in Melbourne at the age of 59 while covering the Australian Open.
He was a hugely respected and admired journalist who spent 38 years in the industry – 33 at the Mail having started in 1990 – and his loss has been felt deeply by colleagues in the media, as well as players past and present.
Now, as a mark of respect to Dickson and his great career covering the sport, Wimbledon have chosen to pay tribute by leaving desk No 79, which he would use each summer at the Championships, empty.
‘As a mark of respect for our much-missed media colleague, the Daily Mail’s Mike Dickson – ‘Dicko’, who sadly passed away whilst covering the Australian Open in January, his desk (No. 79) will be left empty this year,’ a note on the desk read.
Legendary Daily Mail tennis correspondent Mike Dickson tragically died back in January
A tribute has been stuck to the computer which Dickson would use each year at Wimbledon
Desk No 79, which Dickson would use every Wimbledon, has been left empty to pay tribute
‘We invite anyone who knew Mike to please come to the press reception and add their name to a photo that we have had produced.
‘This will be framed and given to his family at the end of The Championships.’
In the lead up to the tournament thee passing of Dickson once again struck a chord with players.
‘It will be strange not having Mike at Wimbledon this year,’ British star Dan Evans said over the weekend.
‘He began working as the Daily Mail’s tennis correspondent long before I played professionally and I vividly remember our first meeting.
‘I had been given a wildcard for Queen’s as a teenager and a couple of us ended up going for a night out in London. Dicko picked up on our misdemeanours and hammered us.
Without Dickson’s presence there will be a gaping hole in the press room at Wimbledon
British No 3 Dan Evans says it will be strange not having Dickson at Wimbledon this year
‘It was the first time I’d been in the press and I was livid about it. I was young and trying to make a good impression. I spent a few months stewing about it before I actually met Dicko for the first time, at a competition in Bath.
‘He was so kind and polite that it was impossible to be angry with him.’
He added: ‘The older I got, the more I understood the importance of what he did. Everything Dicko wrote was balanced and fair. Tennis needs guys like him and he was part of the furniture. We ended up sharing a couple of dinners together and I had great admiration for him.’