PROMOTED CONTENT Q&A SPECSAVERS

How was it starting out? I was sick with nerves. On my first day the autocue bust and I was scrabbling around trying to read off a script.

Had you always set your 20/20 VISION20/20 WITH sights on commentating? 20/20 I’ve never had a plan, but I work Varifocal hard and focus on whatever is Wimbledon commentator Andrew Castle talks about his love in front of me at the time. contact lenses

for all things SW19, and recalls the tennis stars and matches Has your eyesight changed Is the world slipping of old. Continuing our series with Specsavers, Helen Gilbert in your mid-life years? out of focus? Here’s About three years ago, Sophia a brilliant solution asks the former British No. 1 20 questions in 20 minutes and I were in a restaurant and I couldn’t read the menu. The print was painfully small and in Andrew Castle is not alone in swirly italics. I now wear lenses experiencing a change in vision. to read the newspapers and the Maybe you are starting to hold ndrew Castle is What happened next? computer screens I use at LBC things at arm’s length to see a familiar face in I won and a couple of days radio when I present shows. clearly? Don’t worry, it affects the Wimbledon later faced the No. 2 seed Mats most people aged 40-plus and commentary box. Wilander on the old No 1 Court. Do you wear your lenses can mean that tasks, such as AtA this year’s championships, As I I walked through the tunnel, for anything else? reading menus, are difficult. the 54-year-old, from southwest walked looked up and saw thousands I find them helpful for golf, too. Varifocal contact lenses are , is serving up his of people bathed in sunshine. ideal if you’re noticing a change 16th year guiding us through on to In my shock I tripped over the You’ve commentated on in your sight, especially if you game, set and match. edge of the grass. I lost in the 15 Wimbledon finals for the want to continue playing sport court, it fifth set after being two sets BBC. Which ones rank top? without your glasses slipping How old were you when you to one up. The 2008 Federer v Nadal final off your nose. Varifocal lenses started playing tennis? was like that ended in near-darkness, accommodate multiple vision- Nine. A friend and I went to being What advice would you and the last game of Murray v types in one lens, enabling you our local park and we played give your younger self? Djokovic in 2013. There was to switch between close up, in- all day. I fell in love with the plugged Focus on improving your no air in the place. I remember between and far away. Anyone ball, the racquet, the strings physical strength. Also, saying: “Sporting immortality for tennis? and the game in every way. into the I wouldn’t have spent so doesn’t come easily.” much time with my then Try varifocal contact Was it always your vision mains, and fiancée – it was a waste of In your dream match, lenses, for free* to play at Wimbledon? I played her time and mine. [Laughs] who would be on court? Specsavers offers lots of Yes. It’s unique. I used to Rod Laver, at his best, against different types and brands of imagine being some of the in a daze When you were playing, Hawk- Federer. Björn Borg against contact lenses. Our qualified players who I eventually got Eye didn’t exist. What are your Nadal on clay would be fun, too. opticians are on hand to help you to know and compete against. thoughts on the technology? find the perfect lens and look Hawk-Eye [which helps umpires What are your favourite after you every step of the way. What’s your happiest memory rule whether balls are in or out] spots at Wimbledon? Pop into your local store for your from your days as a junior? has made a huge difference to The Gentlemen Members’ free trial and to find out more. Winning the Under-12 National tennis. You want the person Dressing Room. It’s a privileged event at Eastbourne in 1975. who should win to win. Roger [Federer] for 10 minutes. When did you stop playing WATCHING THE space [only a select few have I came from a working-class I’d also like Rafa Nadal’s professionally? BALL: Andrew access]. I go in for a lie down For more information background. There was no Would any of your matches forehand, John Isner’s serve, After the 1992 Olympics, at the Castle has and find solitude there. And, on the Specsavers range money and my parents made have played out differently John McEnroe’s volley and the age of 28. My wife Sophia was a clear view of of course, the commentary of contact lenses, visit sacrifices for me. I can’t believe with Hawk-Eye? stubbornness of Andy Murray. expecting our first child and we Centre Court box on Centre Court. specsavers.co.uk how lucky I was. Plenty. When I was playing needed money. Sky approached Kevin Curren at Wimbledon, he Who do you enjoy watching me to work as a commentator Does the future of the sport What is your own standout served a ball on a break point to at Wimbledon and why? alongside Sue Barker. I was look promising? Wimbledon moment? me that was way out, but it was You need never look beyond there for eight years. The men’s game is currently My debut in 1986. I was on No. called good. Of course, bad calls the great Roger Federer – blessed with stars such as 6 Court playing Australia’s Brod have worked in my favour, too. he’s definitely the boss. And Next came GMTV, where Federer, Nadal, Djokovic *Free trial: one pair of monthly lenses or five pairs Dyke. I remember the first step Serena Williams in the Ladies’. you worked for a decade... and Murray. However, I’m of daily disposable lenses. Trial subject to suitability and includes easyvision and Acuvue® lenses only. I took on to the grass. It was like If you could morph into your This is a woman who by a I got a call from the boss who enjoying the progress of Excludes other brands, coloured, gas permeable or hard lenses. One free trial per person per year at being plugged into the mains, ideal player, who would it be? country mile is the best player said: “I think you’re the man for Alexander “Sascha” Zverev one store only. Current prescription required, or an

and I played in a daze. It would be nice to play like of the past 15-20 years. COME CREDIT TO PICTURE the GMTV sofa.” I was chuffed. and Britain’s Kyle Edmund. eye test will be required at our standard charge.