Geri Halliwell turned Stroppy Spice when she turned up at a Wimbledon press event but refused to take part.
The singer attended a Lawn Tennis Association promotion as a guest of Duncan James from boyband Blue. Rumours have been circulating for months that the pair are an item, although this was strongly denied.
Duncan spent half an hour at the Kids Zone in the grounds of Wimbledon helping to promote tennis for children by practising his serve and chatting with youngsters.
Meanwhile, wearing a white v-neck top and a pale pink short skirt, 31-year-old Geri kept her head bowed and was enveloped by security as she attempted to fend off photographers.
Duncan called Geri over to the serving area, but she refused to pick up a racket or ball and seemed desperate to leave. At one point she plaintively cried: "Duncan, come on. Come on."
But the Blue singer, wearing combats, grey T-shirt and a baseball cap, continued chatting with children and LTA officials.
His fastest serve reached 94 mph before he turned and said: "I want to get over 100 - what does Greg (Rusedski) do, about 130?"
The 25-year-old then posed for photographers with an outsized racket as he helped publicise the game to young people.
Both Geri and Duncan had tickets for Centre Court to watch Tim Henman in his fourth round match against Australian Mark Philippoussis.
A spokeswoman for Geri said: "She was just there as Duncan's guest - they are not a couple."
