Wimbledon Kew will return three years after COVID-19's hiatus

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — "They say they are all colors Hundreds of tents were still scattered in the green grass, so a card dealer contacted the Steward at Wimbledon Park.

"Drink. For example. "Drink" drink. Why not? "A quiet reply arrived immediately and intriguingly, followed by" But you didn't hear it from me. "

Oh yeah, Wimble Don Cue is all about pre-pandemic glory. Three years after its predecessor, it reappears in a fairly "naturally healed" way, giving people a way to wait in line at the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament on the Grass Court, which began on Monday. To access tickets (for a fee, of course) so that you can participate in the match.

"It's such a cool place. Meet people you've never met. You make it a weekend. And you have the thrill of sitting in court," said 29-year-old from Newcastle. Graham Old said. "It's very valuable — traveling, camping, waiting, it's all great."

This is the same for long-term followers and first-timers. It's an event that is happening in itself, sharing the friendship that accompanies the attachment to tennis and sharing the field. Go home overnight or more with friends, family and people who were completely strangers.

Old, who said he worked in the financial sector, had just returned to the park on Sunday night, put two pizzas in a red cardboard box, and after a cricket match with others. Nourished myself and my two companions. The cue type they encountered.

The Old Group arrived in the area around 6am on Sunday, 8 hours before the start of authorization. Process: You find your location behind the line and receive a numbered "ticket" — this is not really a ticket to enter the All England Club, but where is your location A card that proves — Temporary setup Use your residence, on-site toilets, water dispensers, and food trucks to start bidding for the time to Steward's wake-up call at 6am.

Only then can you make tents and other belongings. Stored in a temporary office. At 7:30 am, the line begins to move, winding around the park, passing through the adjacent park and finally reaching the ticket purchase window within 0.5 miles (km) of the tournament venue.

This is unique in the Grand Slam tournament, with about 500 tickets available daily for the first 10 days of the Center Court. On Monday, there was a match between six Wimbledon champions Novak Jokovic and a popular British pair. Players, two-time winner Andy Murray, and US open champion Emma Raducanu — with thousands of ground passes, around 500 each on courts 1 and 2, with access to all the little courts, It costs £ 27 (about $ 33 on the first day).

The All England Club said on Monday that there were 431 tents in the park overnight and 2,808 cards were distributed by 7am.

The No. 1 card in possession was Brentfam, a 32-year-old property manager from Irvine, California, who appeared around 11:00 pm on Friday. He — it was too early to enter the official queue — and initially bet his claim to first inline status by waiting on the sidewalk outside Wimbledon Park.

Eventually, he and others moved to another lawn field for a temporary informal lowercase cue until he and others were allowed to enter the true cue on Sunday. I was told to do it.

"Come early, I thought I would be number one, but I was still a little wondering if I would be number one," he joined the second cue and himself. I'm a big fan of Serena Williams, but I wanted to see Jokovic on Monday. "I like the fact that you can't buy just by attending a tournament, regardless of price. Those who try to wait will be rewarded. In my opinion, this is a good system."

Wimbledon was completely canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, and the queue was destroyed a year ago when competition returned with restrictions limiting the size of the crowd.

As with the queue, there was a packed crowd on Monday.

"The fact that we didn't have it last year really emphasized to everyone the importance and importance of it. It was greatly missed. Why queues are important. Not because people think they enjoy queuing, especially in the UK ... but it's really about accessibility, "said Sally Bolton, CEO of the All England Club. "It also contains a lot of joy and excitement, and the atmosphere of a festival in the park."

It was certainly on display. From bottles of champagne and fine crystal glasses to cans of beer, empty vodka bottles, the guy who stirs the guitar for the crowd, to improvisation. Soccer, volleyball and Frisby games.

Katie and Toby — two 21-year-old students from Cardiff University in Wales, about 125 miles (200 km) away, asked not to use their surname — arrived at the park after 7 o'clock On Sunday afternoons, there is a gray tent, two sleeping bags, an air mattress, a picnic and a change of clothes.

Toby wanted to meet three major champions, Stanwa Ulinka, on Monday.

And Katie.

"Anyone," she said. "Absolutely anyone."