Hundreds of Wimbledon fans have already flocked to SW19 and set up their tents to camp overnight in hopes of bagging the best tickets.
The time-honoured tradition of queueing for tickets to the tennis tournament has already begun as ultra-dedicated tennis fans have been pictured making themselves comfy for the long wait.
The first matches of the tournament are not due to start until 11am on Monday morning. Tickets are offered on a first come, first served, basis.
Pictures taken before 9am today showed them sitting in camping chairs and enjoying picnics as they settled down in Wimbledon Park in southwest London.
Many of the fans will be hoping to catch British stars Emma Raducanu, 21, who faces off against Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Scottish legend Andy Murray.
The time-honoured tradition of queueing for tickets to the tennis tournament has already begun as ultra-dedicated tennis fans have been pictured making themselves comfy for the long wait
The first matches of the tournament are not due to start until 11am on Monday morning, so fans in the already giant line have brought all the essentials for the wait
Pictures taken before 9am today showed them sitting in camping chairs and enjoying picnics as they settled down in Wimbledon Park
The seasoned two-time champion of Wimbledon, 37, hopes to be fit for what is likely to be his farewell at Wimbledon before he retires.
He is scheduled to play world number 38 Tomas Machac in the first round on Tuesday, and is also aiming to play in the doubles with his brother Jamie.
One camper proudly flew a Union Flag from their tent as they settled in for the wait.
Other pictures showed campers remaining optimistic about the weather as they donned sunglasses and shorts in the morning.
The queue should remain dry as the Met Office’s forecast only gives a 4 per cent chance of precipitation in the area today, with temperatures expected to reach 19C.
On Monday the chance of rain rises to 10 per cent, with similar temperatures predicted.
Tuesday and Wednesday will be more cloudy with scattered showers expected at the weekend.
Many of the fans will be hoping to catch British stars in action
Emma Radacanu (pictured today) as she practices ahead of the match against opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is seeded 22
Andy Murray (pictured today) arrives for practice prior to the tournament beginning tomorrow
Wimbledon remains one of the very few major sporting events where you can buy premium tickets on the day of play
The queuing tradition at Wimbledon has been a long-running feature of the tournament
One camper proudly displayed a Union Flag as they settled in for the wait
Each day a large queue forms to buy either one of the limited Show Court tickets available, or a Grounds ticket
Wimbledon rules state campers must only use tents which accommodate a maximum of two people, and one person should be present at all times
Thousands of fans will soon descend on the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The venue has been getting ready for weeks for the tournament which will begin tomorrow
The tradition of queueing has previously garnered some mixed reactions on social media with some calling it an ‘archaic method’ which is only suited to those living in the UK.
Wimbledon remains one of the very few major sporting events where you can buy premium tickets on the day of play.
Each day a large queue forms to buy either one of the limited Show Court tickets available, or a Grounds ticket. Tickets are sold on a best available, one per person queuing basis and are non-transferable, according to the Wimbledon website.
The queue often starts the evening before and increases very early in the morning.
There will be 500 tickets for Centre Court (excluding last four days), No.1 Court, and No.2 Court will be sold for each day the courts are in play.
But Wimbledon queuers have to obey a strict code of conduct while they wait.
Temporary absence from the queue for purchase of refreshments or toilet breaks etc should not exceed 30 minutes.
Staff clean the seating in the outside courts on the eve of the opening day
A general view of Court 18 today. Queuers will be able to watch a number of matches throughout the tournament
A groundskeeper cuts the grass today prior to first matches taking place tomorrow
Overnight queuers must only use tents which accommodate a maximum of two persons, and one person should be present at all times. Gazebos are banned.
Smoking/vaping is strictly forbidden.
Any take-away food deliveries must arrive before 10pm and be arranged for collection at the Wimbledon Park Road gate only.
The famous queue was cancelled during the pandemic as ticket-holders for the cancelled tournament in 2020 were moved to the following year with all tickets sold online.
But the queue returned in 2022.
Prior to the tournament Emma Raducanu said she enjoys the fun of the football, but was less happy about her own chances against opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is seeded 22.
Raducanu said: ‘I’m expecting a difficult match.
Andy Murray (pictured today) underwent spinal surgery just last week but is determined to play at Wimbledon
The 37-year-old (pictured yesterday) is currently a doubtful entrant in the singles and the doubles next week
But the two-time SW19 champion looked in high spirits at the practice courts on Saturday
The best players in the world will be coming to Wimbledon for the Grand Slam
‘I think it’s a match where I am actually the underdog because she is a lot older, a lot more experienced, and ranked a lot higher.’
Meanwhile, Andy Murray, was all smiles as he practised just one week after surgery on his back.
But Murray sounded a downbeat note: ‘I need to be able to move properly, which I can’t yet, so let’s see in 48 hours or so. I don’t know.
‘Tough to know how it’s going to progress, really.’
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, seemed much more bullish about his chances after his own surgery.
He had a meniscus tear, but previously said he would only play if he felt he could win the tournament.
Last year men’s singles title winner Carlos Alcaraz is one of the favourites to take the title again this year, along with world number one Jannik Sinner.
Aryna Sabalenka is a favourite to pick up the women’s singles title, as is world number one Iga Swiatek.
Meanwhile Wimbledon has braced itself for a series of protests this year, with eco-zealots and pro-Palestinian activists set to target the treasured British institution.
In the biggest operation ever to be mounted at SW19, more than 1,000 security guards aided by specialist police spotters in the crowd will seek to nip any trouble in the bud.
Last year men’s singles title winner Carlos Alcaraz (pictured at Wimbledon today) is one of the favourites to take the title again this year
Novak Djokovic – who is also coming back from surgery – seems incredibly bullish about hopes
A protestor scatters jigsaw puzzle pieces during Wimbledon in 2023
A security guard chases the protestor who caused a Wimbledon match to be paused
The protestor wears a white Just Stop Oil t-shirt as he is dragged away by security
Hundreds of radicals from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign plan to disrupt the tournament, which starts tomorrow.
Just Stop Oil has said it is planning on targeting the tournament, after stopping play in two matches last year.
Britain’s No 1 Katie Boulter was left shocked when her match was paused while security removed a protester.
He had scattered thousands of pieces of jigsaw puzzles and orange-coloured confetti on court.
Now visitors are no longer able to buy jigsaw puzzles of Centre Court and the score board after they were withdrawn from sale from the All-England Club’s shops.
Meanwhile the tournament won praise recently after it refused to adopt gender-neutral ‘ball kids’ tag adopted by other Grand Slams, instead opting for the traditional ‘ball boys and ball girls’.
The championship will also be running a new scheme which will allow punters to pay £5 for a QR code which they can stick to their reusable bottles and use at Evian water refill stations, instead of the regular water fountains.
