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A WIMBLEDON nut was left writhing in agony after a 96mph serve was smashed into his crotch.

Mel Merrett, 51, was just getting comfy when he was hit by a set-point ace from US star Tommy Paul.

BBC cameras caught the the moment the ball smashed into Mel Merret's crotch
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BBC cameras caught the the moment the ball smashed into Mel Merret's crotch
Mel says he was in so much agony he couldn't even pick up the tennis ball
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Mel says he was in so much agony he couldn't even pick up the tennis ball

BBC cameras caught the ball fizzing off the grass and into his crown jewels on No2 court.  

The dad of two said: “I’d just started to relax and spread out a bit.

“Everyone around me was cheering the point. 

“No one except my friend really noticed I had been hit in my balls.

“I was in so much agony I couldn’t even pick up the tennis ball.

“What made it worse is the BBC captured it live on TV, so all my mates have seen it.” 

The graphic designer, from Orpington, South East London, was at SW19 last Friday.

In a cruel twist of fate, he was not supposed to be in the fateful spot but someone was sitting in his seat. 

Mel went on: “It’s still throbbing now.

“It’s certainly reduced many of my friends to tears of laughter despite my real tears of pain.”

Ace Paul beat Alexander Bublik before he was knocked out by Carlos Alcaraz.

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