Tom Cruise let everyone know he was at Ash Barty's Wimbledon final. Photo / Getty Images
Tom Cruise let everyone know he was at Ash Barty's Wimbledon final. Photo / Getty Images
The Hollywood star was in the house for Ash Barty's Wimbledon triumph and he couldn't stay out of the spotlight.
There weren't any couches to jump on but Tom Cruise still made sure everyone could see him in the crowd at Ash Barty's Wimbledon final.
Perhaps it was fitting themovie star was on hand for the Aussie's historic win because it certainly proved Mission Impossible for runner-up Karolina Pliskova.
But the presence of the Hollywood icon, who was joined by Mission Impossible: 7 co-stars Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff, didn't sit well with everyone.
Tom Cruise poses for a photo with a fan. Photo / Getty Images
Tennis fans turned their fury on the 59-year-old for hogging the spotlight – and broadcasters and the official Wimbledon social media accounts for pointing it at him.
Tom Cruise arrives at Wimbledon with his Mission Impossible: 7 co-stars. Photo / Getty Images
Cruise appeared to be lapping up the attention as he stood and waved to the crowd and posed for photographs with fans.
The Sydney Morning Herald's Latika M Burke chimed in: "OMG tom cruise it's really not about you."
The Herald Sun's Jon Ralph was also bemused. "We definitely need more Tom Cruise crowd shots," he tweeted.
"Seriously. Sit down," added another fan on Twitter. "It's about the 2 amazing players on the court. Crowd should be interested in them."
Tom Cruise laps up the attention from the crowd. Photo / Getty Images
In the end all eyes were on Barty as she secured a 6-3 6-7 6-3 win that was a perfect reward for one of the great role models in world sport.
Meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the match, Barty rejected Prince William when he suggested she didn't look like she was suffering from any nerves at all.
Asked about her standing in the game and the example she is to the younger generation, Barty was all class.
"I've just tried to live by my values that my parents instilled in me," she replied bashfully. "It's more important to be a good person than it is a good tennis player. I was extremely lucky to have an opportunity to learn how to play tennis. But being a good human being is absolutely my priority every single day."
