10 yrs on, bet on Federer earns fortune
Nicholas Newlife, an unknown punter from Oxfordshire, placed a £1,500 bet of the Swiss winning seven Wimbledon titles, on odds of 66/1 with bookmaker William Hill in 2003, just after the Swiss champion won Wimbledon in his first Grand Slam victory. When Newlife died in 2009, he left all his belongings, including several betting slips, to anti-poverty charity Oxfam.
"Nick Newlife was a keen gambler on sports, and in particular a great tennis fan...but sadly did not live to see Roger land perhaps the most spectacular bet we have ever taken on tennis," said William Hill spokesperson Graham Sharpe. Federer beat Briton Andy Murray to win a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon singles title. "The payout of £101,840 is the first of its kind in 40 years," Sharpe said.
The charity said the money could feed 10,000 families in famine-hit West Africa for an entire month. "All of Oxfam have been cheering Federer's progress for the past couple of weeks. The real hero, though, must be Newlife, for his generous gift.
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