Wimbledon star in poodle-ban challenge

Tennis star Novak Djokovic is in a black dog of a mood after his pet poodle Pierre was not allowed to join him at Wimbledon, it was reported.

The world number two is angry after authorities refused to let the pooch into the country.

The dog, a key part of the Serbian’s back room team, has been an ever present during the European clay court season.

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The second seed is devoted to him – giving him his own Twitter account and even posing with him for the cover of July’s fashion magazine L’Uomo Vogue.

A source said: “He is upset he can’t bring Pierre to Wimbledon and he is pleading with the authorities to let the dog in.

“Whenever he can, he takes the dog with him.

“He is genuinely upset.”

The Australian Open champion on Saturday overcame world number 30 Marcos Baghdatis in four sets. But he was not his usual relaxed self and – with Pierre’s absence possibly playing on his mind – he smashed a racquet.

Determined tennis fans had snapped up all the tickets for the top show courts by last night.

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A batch of 500 tickets for Centre Court, Court One and Court Two are released every day.

But with no play yesterday fans began queuing for them early.

There were 2,000 people in the queue last night.

Championship officials told fans only ground passes – which allow spectators into lesser courts – were left and to join the queue this morning.