Hardcore Wimbledon fans brave the 30C heat to queue 48 hours before first match | Tennis | Sport

At 85-years-old, Richard Hess would be forgiven for wanting to watch this year’s Wimbledon from the comfort of his own home in sunny California. Instead, the witty American speaks to me in the queue for Wimbledon outside the tent that he will call home for 11 nights.

“There’s no other place that you can get close seats on the Centre Court for face value and modest price,” he explains, relaxed in his camping chair. “So for tennis, it’s the best for that reason. I also like English culture, history and people. I enjoy that part of the interaction.”

But this is not Richard’s first rodeo, in fact he is a veteran of the famous Wimbledon queue.

He’s attended 44 championships since his first in 1978 and has camped out every year since 1992.

“Probably 300 days overnight,” he adds.

Richard has witnessed all the stars over the decades, but picked out the 2008 final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — widely considered the great tennis match of all time — as his favourite contest.

The queue has become something of a family affair for Richard and was this time joined by his 60-year-old son Ed for his sixth Wimbledon.

Richard, who said he’s seen more than 50 familiar faces at this year’s queue, described it as a “reunion”.

Just a couple of tents down was Mike Chinner, 59, and his partner Gail Garbett, 60, who met the American father-and-son duo last year.

Superfan Mike has attended Wimbledon almost every year for the past four decades, only missing 2020 when the championships was cancelled due to the pandemic and 2021 when there was “limited access”.

The antiques shop owner from Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, said: “It’s the atmosphere, the friendship, the tennis and Wimbledon has to be on everyone’s bucket list.”

By Saturday evening, there was a sea of more than 70 tents lined up in Wimbledon Park.

The line grew at a steady pace as more and more people joined, some engaged in a losing battle with their tent’s instructions.

Many were dozing in the warm sunshine, while others unwinded by having some drinks, a kick about or tennis rallies.

At the front of the queue was jetlagged Florence Chan who had only landed at Heathrow from Thailand late on Friday night, before setting up her tent in Wimbledon Park at 7:30am on Saturday morning.

“It’s one of the best experiences I had in my life,” said the 55-year-old, excited for her second Wimbledon in a row.

“It means a lot to me,” she added. “Because I was flying 14 hours, I wanted to make sure I got the Centre Court ticket. That’s why I came so early in the morning.”

Florence, who is originally from Hong Kong, is not just hoping to secure a seat in Centre Court.

The Novak Djokovic supporter is also planning on getting the Serbian great to sign two portraits she painted of the record Grand Slam winner.

Next to Florence in the queue was fellow Djokovic fan, Andraz Glavac, from Slovenia.

The 44-year-old, who is camping with his girlfriend, said: “I’ve wanted to see Wimbledon matches for a long time.

“I’ve already been to the Australian Open and French Open, and I think this year it’s time for Wimbledon and also maybe the last chance to see Djokovic play.”

The Wimbledon queue did not officially begin until 2pm on Sunday, but Andraz arrived at 8am on Saturday to ensure he got the best seats.

“We actually didn’t expect to be so close to the first one, to be number two, but can’t complain,” he said with a smile. “The atmosphere is just getting better and better.”

The queue started to form as London remained under an amber warning for extreme heat, with temperatures peaking at around 30C.

The record-breaking hot spell has seen Wimbledon’s grounds team water the courts twice as much, while the roof over Centre Court and Court One has been closed amid the sweltering conditions.

It has also emerged that two of Wimbledon’s most iconic plants, hydrangeas and petunias, could be phased out for drought-friendly alternatives due to soaring summer temperatures.

Sami Shrestha, an orthodontic nurse from Oxford, said she was ready for the baking conditions ahead of joining the queue.

The 31-year-old, who was with her friend, partner and his mum for her fourth time camping out at Wimbledon, said: “We just made sure we checked the weather a week before and prepared ourselves.

“We bought the gazebo just in case it was going to be too hot, just to survive the heat.

“I would just say check the weather, make sure you’ve got your essentials, basic needs and stuff like that and you’ll be good to go. And good company, obviously that helps!”

She also picked out Djokovic as the player she is most looking forward to seeing.

The 39-year-old is looking for an elusive 25th Grand Slam title in SW19 and hinted at retirement last month after losing to Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in the third round at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, hopes of British triumph at Wimbledon have taken a dent amid concerns over the fitness of Emma Raducanu.

The British number one cut short her practice session on Saturday and cancelled a scheduled press conference.

The 23-year-old was seen training on Sunday but with strapping around her lower right leg.

But for the hundreds pitched up in Wimbledon Park, the sweaty conditions and uncertainty over one of Britain’s star players is all part of the unique Wimbledon experience.

After all, what’s more British than a good old fashioned queue?