Anyone for queueing? The patient wait that defines the spirit of Wimbledon

Following a time-honoured British tradition, families and friends queue for hours – even days – in Wimbledon Park for a chance to catch a glimpse of their cherished tennis superheroes. Kieran Jackson grabs his umbrella and heads down to SW19 to meet some of this year’s ticket hopefuls

Emma Raducanu makes it worth the wait for queueing fans at Wimbledon (Getty Images)

July arrives, and Wimbledon comes alive. Down the hill from the hustle and bustle of the town, and across Church Road from the All England Club, lies Wimbledon Park – and for two weeks, it is no ordinary public space.

Wimbledon’s daily queue is perhaps as synonymous with the tournament as the top-tier tennis itself. Since 1922, legions of fans have joined the back of the line in anticipation of prising a highly-valued grounds pass. In an era where sporting hospitality is on the rise (granted, Wimbledon offers plenty of pomp) and demand from the general public frequently outstrips tickets, Wimbledon’s humble queue offers something extremely rare.

Unlucky in the public ballot? This is your second chance. What’s more, with 500 tickets available for each of Centre Court, Court 1 and Court 2 every day, you are in fact the maker of your own destiny.