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
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.
This year, those at the front of the queue arrived from 7:30am on the Saturday before Monday’s start. Two nights of camping lay ahead. But the Barker family from Dublin say it is more than worth it for a close-up viewing of the world’s best.
“Some people would prefer to spend their holiday on a cruise or five-star experience, but we would never exchange it for this,” says Julia Barker, first in the queue alongside husband Nicki and son Dan.
“Being there on Centre court, especially on the first day, the fresh grass, the atmosphere, it’s so perfect. We don’t need any five-star holiday, it’s worth it.”
It is the family’s fourth jaunt to the queue, but their first since the pandemic; lines were absent for the 2021 limited-capacity championships, as well as in 2020 when the event was cancelled. Frankly, the 42 acres of the AELTC did not feel the same.
“You want to be here early enough to get the good seats,” says Dan, himself a former junior player. “Because otherwise it defeats the purpose.”
The family represents one strand of a process that caters for just about every sort of spectator, where hardcore tennis lovers can commit to a night or two in the park, revelling in a fun-loving atmosphere with fellow campers.
Quite often, the weather has the final say over the overriding mood – those waiting in some of this week’s heavy showers would have had it tough – but as Julia explains, a bond is quickly formed.
“We’re not as experienced as some people in the queue who have been doing it for years, but you see the same people around you and you get to know them,” she says.
“You become friends. The first year we came we saw the people at the front and were jealous. How did they make it? And now here we are!”
They are one type of fan; others, keen for a lovely day out, can arrive from 6am with the intention of buying a pass for the day, providing access to all the outside courts and the rest of the grounds, including Henman Hill, for just £27. Particularly in week one, with singles action aplenty, this is a popular choice.
Queueing is managed just as you’d expect at a British tournament. A steward provides a queue card designating a spot in line, and hopefuls snake their way through Wimbledon Park Golf Club – site for the proposed redevelopment of the All England Club in the years to come – over the Church Road bridge and inside the hallowed gates.
Later stages of the interminable wait are brightened up with sponsor stations, providing a glimpse of a famous name or two if you’re lucky. In the early hours of Monday, fans were treated to an appearance by 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, otherwise absent this year through injury.
Yet the waiting game is not without its faults. Normally calm and good-natured, there were frustrations on Monday morning with abnormally long waits caused by security delays and bag checks triggered by caution over potential disruption by protesters. With some waiting more than 10 hours, Wimbledon apologised on Tuesday, insisting it would learn and improve.
Aside from some early moans on Twitter, serenity settles over any fractiousness. Because that’s the queue. Thousands flock from all over the world for the chance to enter the grounds of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, in the most quintessentially British fashion possible.
“When you get into the grounds and onto Centre Court you realise it’s just as special as the first time,” sums up Dan.
“Even if you don’t like camping, like me.”
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