Wimbledon returns at full capacity
It’s the first time there's been a full audience in three years
Last updated 27th Jun 2022
Thousands have arrived at Wimbledon as it returns at full capacity for the first time in three years.
The world's oldest tennis tournament was cancelled in 2020, for the first time since the Second World War, amid coronavirus restrictions, and audience capacity was reduced to 50% in 2021.
A huge group of tennis fans also joined the famous queue for premium tickets on the day of play, including Roger Federer superfan Danilo Criscuolo, who flew from Napoli in Italy last week to be first in line for Tuesday tickets.
Fan carries portrait of Roger Federer
The 30-year-old, a car rental administrator who has been camping in south-west London for three nights, said: "It was a very long trip because we were two hours delayed from the start, and there was another two hours of delay for the luggage.
"But when I saw for the first time the grass of the Wimbledon park, I lost all my bad vibes - only good vibes."
Baring a tattoo of Federer on his calf, he joked: "I have a portrait here of Roger Federer but I don't have a portrait of my wife - he is more important than my wife."
Joining Premium tickets queue for over 60 years
Veteran Wimbledon fan and retired GP Maggie Wright said she has been joining the queue for premium on-the-day tickets for 60 years.
The 71-year-old, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, who was camping with her daughter, Henrietta Braithwaite, said: "We used to stand and queue for Centre Court for five shillings, I think it was.
"Initially you didn't have to queue overnight, and then it was on the pavement, and I think we really were the diehard fans because there would be cars all night flashing their lights at us - terrible.
"It's very quiet this year, but it's always great because you meet people from around the world and you never know who you're going to be next to.
"Everyone's really friendly and helpful. It is a great part of the experience.
"The worst thing about the queue is finding somewhere to shower, and the best part is everything else."
Meeting people from all over the world
Colm O'Donnell, from Ashford in Kent, said he has made lifelong friends with people from China, Australia and the USA after meeting them in the Wimbledon queue.
The 35-year-old food bank employee, who has been camping outside the south-west London venue to ensure his spot in the queue since Saturday, said: "This is my fifth year in the queue.
"I'm making an effort because I've made so many friends in the queue and that's what's so good about the queue.
"I've made a friend in the queue who I've been having Zoom calls with for the past year-and-a-half during Covid and lockdown, and they've invited me to their home in Australia.
"And that's the magic of what the queue does, for meeting people around the world.
"That's why Federer fans and tennis fans come to meet in this one spectacular place in Wimbledon."
Mr O'Donnell said that, as a Federer fan, he wants to see "anyone but Djokovic" win this year, particularly after he refused to get vaccinated for coronavirus ahead of the Australian Open.
What’s happened so far at Wimbledon?
Play was halted by rain after just 40 minutes of the opening day at Wimbledon, after The Met Office warned the expected 42,000 supporters to brace for rain showers in the early afternoon - just as the first Centre Court games were set to begin.
British number one Cameron Norrie, beginning proceedings on Court Two, had just taken the first set against Spain's Pablo Andujar when the rain came.
Play was suspended on all the outside courts and will not begin before 1pm at the earliest.
British wild card Jodie Burrage has been in action against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
Top seed Novak Djokovic begins his title defence against South Korea's Kwon Soon-woo, under the roof if needed, on Centre Court at 1.30pm.
Britain's Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray are also in action on Centre Court later today, Murray will be facing Australian James Duckworth and Raducanu will make her Centre Court debut against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
The All England Club tournament in south-west London is running from June 27 until July 10 this year.