Fans are gearing up for arguably the most popular day of the Wimbledon tournament as ‘Manic Monday’ returns.
The second Monday of the championships is the only time when all of the men’s and women’s singles matches take place on the same day with huge stars in action including former winners Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
A host of celebrities flocked to the courts today to see all the drama including stalwart Sir Cliff Richard while many fellow athletes including England cricketer Jason Roy, golfers Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and the most successful sailor in Olympic history Sir Ben Ainslie.
But it’s been a bad year for the Brits, with no home nation player making it through to the second week of singles competition for the first time since 2007.
Jamie Murray continues to fly the flag for the UK in doubles action however, once again pulling a double shift competing in the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles.
But fellow Brit Dominic Inglot may have trouble keeping his rivalry with own doubles partner Franko Skugor under wraps in their third-round match with the Croatian’s country facing off against England in the World Cup semi final on Wednesday.
Thousands of fans have packed into Wimbledon today for Manic Monday – the only day of the tournament when all male and female singles players are in action
Armed police were on alert for the big day with stars including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams on the courts
Wimbledon stalwart Sir Cliff Richard was again at SW19 among the huge crowds battling to see the best of the matches on the outdoor courts or the main draws on the show courts
Sir Ben Ainslie, centre, and broadcaster wife Georgie Thompson, second left, were among the famous faces in the Royal Box
Actor Jason Isaacs applauded Roger Federer on Centre Court alongside beauty firm boss Lady Demetra Pinsent who attended with Olympic rowing champion husband Sir Matthew
The Scot is defending his mixed doubles crown from 2017 that he won with Martina Hingis, although he is competing alongside former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka this year.
Players and fans alike have endured a relentless heatwave in the first week but the mercury is set to drop down to cooler temperatures in the next few days.
Highs of 80F are forecast for the afternoon, but it appears as though clouds may help impede the worst heat from the glaring sun.
Temperatures will drop to the low 20s Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as a cool, cloudy conditions sweep in, with the chance of showers on Wednesday.
The mercury looks set to rise to above 77F from Friday, with cloud cover set to burn off, and the chance of hot, sun-drenched courts at the weekend for the finals.
Wimbledon’s first week was full of shock results, with nine of the top 10 women’s seeds and five of the top 10 men crashing out early on.
Some fans were quick to establish a base on Murray Mound aka Henman Hill to watch the action on the big screens
Security, pictured, led people through the gates in an orderly fashion as the excitement built up this morning
Shorts, t-shirts and hats were once again the predominant outfit of choice with temperatures set to hit 80F today
Next year they’ll be marrying, but for now Vicky Pattison and fiance John Noble are making the most of the summer social calendar with a trip to Wimbledon on Monday
Models Laura Bailey and Erin O’Connor both looked stunning in floaty summer dresses in designer leather bags
Despite their advancing years, the ‘old guard’ of tennis are dominating the sport on the grass courts this year and Federer, Williams and Nadal are yet to drop a set.
The only remaining top-10 women’s seed is Karolina Pliskova, who could not have foreseen this situation at the start of the tournament having never previously been beyond the second round.
The Czech, a former US Open finalist, next faces 20th seed Kiki Bertens, who knocked out Venus Williams in round three.
Pliskova said: ‘I think it’s very lucky that, of all of the top 10, only I am in. Everything is possible. You can see everybody is playing great tennis. There’s so many close matches.’
Williams has extended her run of unbeaten matches at the All England Club to 17 after winning the title in 2015 and 2016 before taking last year off ahead of the birth of her daughter Olympia.
She faces a fellow mother in Russian surprise package Evgeniya Rodina and insists she feels no pressure as the title favourite.
‘Not many other people on the tour have won 23 (slam singles titles), so I’m in a unique position,’ she said.
‘I mean, Roger is very close. He’s catching up. He’s right there. I can see him. But that’s amazing. There’s only a handful of people that can say that they don’t have to do anything else in their career.’
Centre Court, pictured, will play host to former champions Federer, Williams and Nadal today as they look to continue their streak of winning without losing a set
Manic Monday will not see any Brits in singles action as UK players experience their worst Wimbledon since 2007
But many are more concerned with having a relaxed day and enjoying a drink in the sunshine while watching tennis
Sports reporter Georgie Thompson and Oympian Sir Ben Ainslie, left, also arrived to check out week two of Wimbledon as did Sir Matthew Pinsent and wife Lady Demetra, right
Federer reached 19 by winning his eighth title 12 months ago and extended that to 20 at the Australian Open in January.
The Swiss is yet to face a break point let alone drop a set and France’s Adrian Mannarino will have his work cut out to change that.
Excitement is growing at the prospect of another Federer-Nadal final 10 years after their classic meeting, but the Spaniard is among those hoping it does not happen.
Nadal, who will meet Czech Jiri Vesely as he bids to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011, said: ‘If I am in the final, I prefer to face an easier opponent. I am not stupid. But if I am in the final, it will be great news.’
Djokovic lost the opening set to Britain’s Kyle Edmund in the third round but showed in his response both on the court and to the hostile crowd that the hunger is well and truly back.
He takes on Russian Karen Khachanov while fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro, eighth seed Kevin Anderson and former runner-up Milos Raonic stand out as the most likely challengers to the big guns.