Wimbledon starts today and crowds of people have already lined up outside the courts – with some even pitching and pitching tents.
This is the first time in three years that the tennis tournament will operate under the full capacity of 42,000 spectators after capacity was reduced during the pandemic.
The championships were completely canceled in 2020 and the number of spectators was reduced to 50% in 2021.
Eager tennis lovers pitched their tents in a park across the courts over the weekend, to be at the front of the queue and the first to get tickets for the opening day.
A major development for this year’s event is that Russian and Belarusian tennis players are banned from the tournament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Players banned from the tournament include men’s world number one, Daniil Medvedev, and women’s number five Aryna Sabalenka.
However, the decision had serious repercussions with the ATP and WTA deciding to withhold ranking points from the tournament.
Retired family doctor Maggie Wright, 71, said she had been standing for tickets on the day for 60 years.
“We used to stand in front of Center Court for five shillings and stand in line, I think it was,” said Suffolk resident Lowestoft.
‘At first you did not have to queue overnight and then it was on the sidewalk, and I think we were really the stubborn fans, because there would be cars flashing at us all night with their lights on – awful.
‘It’s very quiet this year, but it’s always great because you always meet people from all over the world and you never know who you’re going to be next to.
“Everyone is really friendly and helpful. That’s a big part of the experience. The worst part of the queue is finding somewhere to dump, and the best part is everything else. ‘
The weather for the two-week period will be predominantly dry, but there is the potential for some showers and winds between the sunny weather.
According to the Met Office, the sky should remain largely clear throughout today, although there is the threat of some showers between 11:00 and 13:00.
Marco Petagna, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said: ‘The first half of the week the impression is very clear dry weather with a small chance of showers coming in.
‘It’s really the second half of the week that there’s going to be a greater chance of showers breaking out.
“Temperatures are generally going to be about average, so highs of 21 ° C.”
Marco added the second week could see more calm weather, although confidence in the long-term forecast is lower.
He said: ‘The trend is for things to get a little more established as we approach July, so a better chance of more calm weather developing in that second week and possibly a bit warmer as well.’
Highlights to look forward to this year include Novak Djokovic defending his 2021 title and Rafael Nadal returning to Wimbledon for the first time since 2019.
Multiple Grand Slam winner Serena Williams is also returning and excitement is growing for Emma Raducanu, who had a wonderful summer last year after winning the US Open at just 18.
Raducanu and Sir Andy Murray are playing their first round matches at Center Court today.
But Murray struggles against a tummy tuck, while Raducanu has a side tribulation.
Organizers have also announced record prize money for this summer’s tournament, with the two singles champions taking home £ 2 million.
The total prize money of £ 40.35 million is an increase of 11.1% at 2021’s championships – where capacity has been reduced for Covid-19 reasons – and 5.4% higher than the last regular tournament in 2019.
Besides Raducanu and Sir Andy, other Britons are joining Wimbledon this year in Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Heather Watson, Harriet Darta, Katie Swan and Jodie Burrage.
For the men’s draw, British players Jay Clarke, Paul Jubb, Dan Evans, Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Alastair Gray and Liam Broady are in action at the start of the week.
Center Court also celebrates its 100th birthday this year.
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