Charitable Bequest Wins, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

What with Andy Murray winning Olympic gold and then the U.S. Open, I missed this Wimbledon story about a charitable bequest.

Nick Newlife

Nick Newlife is variously described as a recluse or shut-in. Like tennis fans everywhere, he was dazzled by young Roger Federer when Roger won his first Wimbledon championship in 2003. Nick wagered that Roger would win seven Wimbledons by 2019. Seven!

Federer had won but six Wimbledon championships when Newlife died in 2009. Nick left his estate – apparently consisting largely of betting slips for future wagers – to the charity Oxfam.

When Federer beat Murray to win Wimbledon again this year, Newlife''s bet, at odds of 66 to one, paid off. Oxfam gets about $158,000 to use for its good works.

Nice going, Roger.