King Richard: Will Smith stuns tennis players with surprise Wimbledon visit

ill Smith stunned aspiring tennis players at Wimbledon after paying a surprise visit - even taking part in a game.

The ‘king of cool’ visited the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative players during a rehearsal session on Wednesday, alongside fellow Hollywood stars Demi Singleton and Saniyya Sidney.

Smith made the appearance ahead of his upcoming biographical film, King Richard, which tells the tale of Richard Williams as he coaches his daughters Venus and Serena into becoming tennis champions despite limited financial resources.

Smith also appeared at a London premiere event on Wednesday night.

The actor, 53, said he felt now was the right time to play the role, because “I’m exploring my life and my experiences honestly.”

“The ability to observe myself and to be able to be honest with myself and to be honest with the world is actually cultivating a deeper acting toolbox for me,” he said.

He added: “I think this is the first time I’ve been in deep enough comprehension to understand Richard Williams and then to deliver the subtle and delicate complexities and nuances.”

King Richard also stars Aunjanue Ellis as the sisters’ mother, while Saniyya Sidney plays Venus and Demi Singleton portrays Serena.

It also stars Jon Bernthal, as tennis coach Rick Macci, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott and Susie Abromeit.

The Williams family were heavily involved in the production of the film, with Serena and Venus’ sister Isha being one of the executive producers on the biopic.

Speaking at the premiere event at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, Smith said: “What this family was able to do is as close to impossible as you can imagine, it was as insane and impossible a dream as you can imagine.

“And they centred on faith, they centred on family, they centred on trying to create healthy contributors to the human family, they were building people, they weren’t building tennis stars.”

King Richard airs in cinemas from Friday, November 19.