From Montego Bay to Centre Court… in a camper van: Incredible story behind the tennis ace with tongue-piercing, tattoo and a VERY glamorous girlfriend who stunned Wimbledon by beating Nadal
By Richard Spillett and Alan Hall and Emma Glanfield
Until yesterday, he was a little known 30-year-old who spent his time travelling Europe in a camper van attending obscure tennis tournaments.
But Dustin Brown became an overnight superstar when he dramatically knocked out double championship winner Rafael Nadal in the most stunning upset at Wimbledon so far this year.
The German-born Brown isn’t your usual Centre Court idol though thanks to his tongue piercing, dreadlocks, large tattoos and a Las Vegas model girlfriend.
And his journey to the SW19 spotlight is just as unconventional.
While many tennis pros are hot housed from a young age in expensive academies, Brown forged his career at some of Europe’s more out-of-the-way tournaments living on free food where he could and travelling in a tiny camper van bought for him by parents who had to scrimp and save to buy it for him.