Madison Keys’ coach and fiancé, Bjorn Fratangelo, found himself in an embarrassing situation during her fourth-round match at Wimbledon when he was caught on camera picking his nose.
As Keys faced off against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini on Sunday afternoon, ESPN’s cameras panned to Fratangelo in the stands on Court One.
What followed was an awkward moment as the former tennis player-turned-coach was seen engaging in the unhygienic act.
For nearly 10 seconds, Fratangelo picked his nose with his thumb, even appearing to flick whatever he found onto the floor at one point.
Commentator Rennae Stubbs reacted in dismay, exclaiming, “Get the camera off him while he’s picking his nose!” Much to the chagrin of viewers, the incident was broadcast to thousands watching at home.
Fans quickly took to social media platform X to criticize Fratangelo’s behavior. One fan wrote, “Don’t pick your nose in public, especially when your wife is playing in a match and there’s a decent chance you’ll be on TV.”
Another commented, “ESPN cameras zoom in on Bjorn Fratangelo just as he is picking his nose and flicking his findings.
This is Wimbledon, sir!” A third fan humorously quoted the 1980 movie The Elephant Man, saying, “‘Are we not human? If we pick, do we not bleed?! I am not an animal!!!’ – Bjorn Fratangelo.”
Despite the distraction, Keys managed to rally after losing the first set, winning a tiebreak in the second.
However, her efforts were cut short when she sustained an injury to her left leg in the third set, forcing her to retire from the match. The 29-year-old American had taken a medical break before ultimately conceding that she could not continue.
Keys and Fratangelo first met while training in Boca Raton, Florida, before their relationship blossomed into romance in 2017.
Six years later, the couple got engaged, though a wedding date may still be undecided due to their busy schedules.
Recalling the proposal, Keys shared, “He actually did it at home, the day I got back from Dubai, so I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was sitting on the couch, and he was like, ‘Hey, I have your birthday present.’
He handed me something and then got down on one knee. Just sitting on the couch, so now we have to keep the couch forever.”
