‘World’s sexiest tennis influencer’ places title ahead for BBC function after Andrew Castle leaves
EXCLUSIVE: The ‘world’s sexiest tennis influencer’ believes she has what it takes to freshen up the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon
Rachel Stuhlmann wants a BBC tennis role(Image: Rachel Stuhlmann)
Rachel Stuhlmann – dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest tennis influencer’ – has said she would love to work as a tennis broadcaster for the BBC after Andrew Castle quit the corporation.
Player-turned-commentary icon Castle had been one of the voices of Wimbledon for more than 20 years. However, he was told that BBC bosses wanted to go in a different direction and rejig their coverage, which involved him having to accept a lesser role going forward. He’s left a big void and maybe we’ve found the person to fill it.
Castle, 62, instead quit the BBC altogether, with the recent championship being his last appearance for the broadcaster. Castle has opened up on his future in an interview with the Times, where he stated that those in charge of BBC Sport’s coverage wanted to change the way they were doing things – which ultimately meant a change in job responsibilities.
Stuhlmann is known as ‘the world’s sexiest tennis influencer’(Image: Rachel Stuhlmann )
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But, with Castle’s departure signalling a change in the sports broadcasting landscape, there will no doubt be new opportunities for more innovative coverage of tennis. Tennis influencer Stuhlmann believes she would thrive in such a creative role and has put herself in the ring for a potential BBC job in the future.
The brunette bombshell, 34, went viral for her stunning court-side snaps and skimpy clothing several years ago. She has managed to build up an impressive following of 304,000 Instagram and 60,000 TikTok followers as a result of her posts.
When asked whether she could see content creators being used more by mainstream broadcasters like the BBC and if she would be keen to work with the BBC in the future, the gorgeous influencer exclusively told Daily Star Sport: “I definitely think that’s where sports media is heading.
The former tennis player is in tune with what consumers want(Image: Rachel Stuhlmann)
“Traditional broadcasters and creators each bring different strengths. Broadcasters have incredible storytelling, production quality, and credibility, while creators often have a closer relationship with audiences and understand how fans consume content today.
“The best coverage, in my opinion, combines both. I’d absolutely be interested in working with the BBC or other major broadcasters.
“I’ve spent years covering professional tennis from multiple angles – as a presenter, host, writer, content creator, and strategist – and I think that experience allows me to connect with both traditional tennis audiences and the next generation of fans. Ultimately, my goal has always been the same: help more people discover how incredible tennis really is.”
Stuhlmann has a huge Instagram following(Image: Rachel Stuhlmann)
In 2023, the American wore a Union Jack bikini to pay tribute to Wimbledon. But, beforehand, she played NCAA Division I tennis for the University of Missouri from 2010 to 2014, earning a national ranking in singles and doubles, which means she knows the fundamentals of the sport.
Stuhlmann then moved into journalism and modelling, and now uses her online profile to “keep pushing the sport of tennis forwards”. She regularly posts photos from tennis tournaments around the world and works for Top Court, a tennis platform where she writes blog posts and acts as media manager.
She suffered a spinal injury in a car accident in December 2023, and later said she was “extremely thankful” after recovering from the injury, which required surgery.
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