They may not get to see the hero of British tennis but thousands of fans were still in great spirits as Wimbledon got underway today.
Two-time champion Sir Andy Murray confirmed yesterday he would not play in this year’s tournament after struggling with a hip injury for the past year.
But devoted fans have come in their droves for the elegant event where even the queues have rules – with pamphlets handed out on how to wait with proper etiquette.
Tennis enthusiasts have been camping out near the grounds in south London for as much as 65 hours before to ensure they get inside at SW19.
And with the sun shining it was hard for many to hide the smiles on their faces as the excitement continues to build, while weather experts believe the prolonged sunny spell could make this the hottest tournament ever, with the current record temperature 96F recorded in 2015.
The gates opened 10.30am with security guards escorting spectators into the site in a typically ordered fashion.
Play starts an hour later on the outer courts and at 1pm on the show courts, including defending champion Roger Federer’s first round match on Centre Court as he bids to win a record-extending ninth title.
Cheers! Excited tennis fans have been pictured toasting to Wimbledon this morning as the tennis championships get underway in south London
Wimbledon 2018 is underway with spectators escorted into the site this morning by security ahead of two weeks of tennis
Some fans came dressed as Wimbledon rivals Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe complete with wigs, pictured, mocking their 1980s hairstyles
Huge crowds poured in through the gates this morning when they opened at 10.30am, ready for a day of tennis
It did not take long before punters were enjoying strawberries and cream, pictured, a delicacy that has become synonymous with the tennis tournament
Wimbledon stalwart Sir Cliff Richard was once again at the championships with a female friend. The singer is a huge fan of tennis and famously sang for fans during a rain break in 1996
Several fans came dressed in their tennis whites including sweatbands and visors as they got into the spirit of the occasion
Smartly dressed stewards and security guards marched the fans through the gates as the tournament began today
Polo shirts and white skirts were one of the themes of the day in terms of outfits as fans came dressed in traditional Wimbledon whites, pictured
The tournament is well known for being a civil affair, and even the queues have rules, with this guide handed out to let people know how to ‘wait properly’
Many fans stopped to take a selfie in front of the day’s schedule, featuring star names including Roger Federer and Serena Williams
With 2,200 staff in the kitchens, Wimbledon is the largest single annual catering operation in sport across Europe.
Around 75,000lbs of strawberries are expected to be consumed on site over the next two weeks alongside 17,500 pints of cream.
An estimated 320,000 glasses of Pimms will be sold to thirsty punters while 230,000 bottles of water will also be dished out alongside 110,000 pints of beer.
The Met Office forecast for the All England Club predicts dry, sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-20Cs for much of this week.
Wimbledon Park, where fans began camping at the weekend, reached 30.4C on Sunday afternoon.
There was a sense of calm both inside and outside the grounds with police (left) on hand to provide protection
Fans took every option they had to keep cool, including drinking bottles of water and covering their heads for shade
Spectators are led into the grounds by marshals using a chain to keep everybody in line and prevent crowd crushes
Many have been camping out for as much as 65 hours but are still in good spirits, enjoying picnics in the morning sun
Sensible fans, including this woman, pictured, have been applying sunscreen as they sit patiently waiting to go in
The courts are not the only thing that is green at Wimbledon, with the buildings themselves decked out in a floral theme
The grass courts looked immaculate as the sun rose this morning ahead of the deluge of tennis fans through the gates
Tennis fans are pictured here toasting to the day ahead at Wimbledon as they enjoy an early morning glass of fizz
Centre Court, pictured, looks ready for action with Roger Federer opening his defence of the men’s crown at 1pm against Dusan Lajovic at 1pm
Camp chairs are a familiar sight in the queue with spectators bringing them along to ensure they can take a break from being on their feet
Although it is known as an elegant tournament, fans still embrace novelty clothes and accessories, including this tennis-themed hat
Forecaster Simon Partridge said any stoppage of play due to the weather is unlikely, with only a low risk of a shower first thing on Monday morning before play starts.
Meanwhile Judy Murray revealed Andy Murray will set his sights on being ready for the hard court season after his withdrawal from Wimbledon.
Murray has been out of action for 11 months following hip surgery and made a return last month at Queen’s and Eastbourne.
But Wimbledon has come just too soon, with the 31-year-old unsure his body can cope with a five-set match at this point.
The alcohol was flowing early on outside the grounds while some fans brought their own balls and props, pictured
Dozens of fans adopted the Wimbledon dress code by turning up in white, carrying bags of food with them
Once the queues began to move the operation to pack up the tents, pictured, began as campers cleared away their temporary homes for the past few hours
Wimbledon is one of the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world which is reflected in the amount of fans who turn up every year
Many tennis enthusiasts were keen to get in as quickly as possible to watch players warm-up on the practice courts
A sea of hats was on show in the fields outside Wimbledon as fans protected themselves from the sun’s rays
Darius Platt-Vowles, pictured, was the person who managed to get the first spot in the queue today, guaranteeing him an opportunity to buy tickets for the show courts
But one fan found a different use for the brochure, opting to have a sleep underneath it to keep the sun from his eyes
Fans have been guided around the site in a typically orderly fashion by stewards sporting the traditional Wimbledon straw hats and orange hi-vis jackets, pictured
Water refilling stations are dotted around the site to encourage people to re-use plastic bottles and cut down on waste
Others have taken the opportunity for a quick rest before the action gets underway at 11.30am, one hour after the gates open
The fields around Wimbledon, pictured, made for a picturesque sight this morning as fans waited in line
Thousands of fans queued up for Wimbledon this morning as one of the most popular events of the British sporting summer gets underway today
Judy Murray told BBC Breakfast ‘Playing best of three sets is very different to best of five sets and of course you wouldn’t want to put yourself into a situation where you couldn’t complete the match or you won the first match but were not able to complete the next match.
‘He’s been out of the game for 11 months and it’s all very new and you don’t know how your body is going to react. It’s not even how your body is reacting during the match, it’s how you are the day after.
‘After playing the two events and then practising to get ready, he just felt he wasn’t ready for five sets just yet. The progress is all good but it’s back to the drawing board and build up towards the hardcourt season.’
In a statement on Facebook on Sunday afternoon, Murray wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I’m announcing that I’ll be withdrawing from Wimbledon this year.
‘I’ve made significant progress in practice and matches over the last ten days, but after lengthy discussions with my team, we’ve decided that playing best of five set matches might be a bit too soon in the recovery process. We did everything we could to try to be ready in time.
‘I will start practising on the hard courts from tomorrow and continuing with my rehab and recovery and I’m looking forward to the US hardcourt season.
‘Thanks for all the messages of support and I’m excited to finally be back playing after so long out.’
Many took the opportunity to explore the grounds ahead of play, with the shadow of the show courts looming over them
Some fans used slightly bizarre ways of keeping the sun from their face, including this man who covered his head with what appears to be a letter
Security is paramount at the annual event, with police pictured patrolling the grounds before the crowds came in
Some kept themselves entertained while waiting to get in by playing card games in the queue, pictured
Many have come prepared for hot weather, with some experts predicting the hottest Wimbledon in history
Another tennis fan is pictured applying sunscreen to his legs while sitting in the queue waiting for the gates to open
Grounds staff were hard at work this morning painting the lines across the courts ahead of the start of play
Many turned up prepared for a long wait by bringing blankets and cushions with them to keep them comfortable outside
Judy Murray has also urged women tennis players to speak out if they have experienced abuse on tour.
Former Great Britain Fed Cup captain Murray, who is also the mother of former Wimbledon winners Andy and Jamie Murray, said high-profile players should make their voices heard if they are aware of others suffering.
She highlighted player-coach relationships as an area of potential concern, and believes young women are particularly vulnerable. She is certain there are players being mistreated.
Judy told the Guardian: ‘I think anybody would tell you that there are examples.
‘I think everybody who’s on the circuit would be able to name you something that isn’t quite right. It’s very easy for a young, inexperienced player to be taken advantage of. I would certainly advocate for anybody who has been the victim of abuse in that coaching relationship to speak about it.’
Stewards were on hand to help out at the queues if the fans could not follow the rules outlined in the pamphlets
Play begins at the outdoor courts, pictured, at 11.30am before high profile stars take to the show courts at 1pm
Hundreds of people are recruited as marshals for the tournament every year and wear a strict uniform despite the heat
Although Wimbledon is often associated with rain, one fan found their umbrella worked just as well as a sun-blocker
Sleeping fans, pictured, provided an amusing site for those making their way through the queue this morning
Water filling stations, pictured, proved a popular destination for fans today as they tried to keep themselves cool
Wimbledon employs around 2,200 catering staff with fans expected to eat thousands of pounds of strawberries and cream in the coming two weeks
Wimbledon was getting under way on Monday, with the elite players on tour assembling in London.
Judy called for players to be given the means to privately raise any such problems.
‘It’s really about the women getting to the stage in their life where they feel confident to speak out,’ she said.
‘There should be an independent sports body, where players can go where they know someone will listen to them and they know someone will act on it – whether that’s emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Often you’re scared to speak because you think it will prejudice people against you.’
And rather than past stars of the game leading a movement, Murray said: ‘We need the current players to step forward. Use your voice when you’ve got a voice.’
The #MeToo campaign has seen alleged abusers called out across a wide spectrum of society, and Murray is waiting to see whether tennis follows suit in exposing such misconduct.
She added: ‘It only needs one person to start it off.’
These women were all smiles as they were pictured celebrating the day ahead with a glass of bubbly this morning
Queue tickets, pictured, are handed out to individuals waiting each day with a list of rules printed on them, including being allowed to leave their place for 30 minutes
The tournament attracts fans from across the world, with these women appearing to have come from the US
Crowds were quickly milling about the grounds as they made the most of their day out in the sun at Wimbledon
British hopefuls in action on the outer courts today include up-and-coming women’s players Harriet Dart and Katie Swan
The seats are empty for now on the outside courts but will soon be full as fans enjoy tennis in wonderful weather
Many fans were spotted having a snooze under their hats as they relaxed on the grass outside the Wimbledon site
Heaps of rubbish has piled up around the bins at Wimbledon as thousands of fans enjoyed picnics this morning
Fans still have British hopefuls to support today, with British number four Liam Broady playing Canadian former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic on Court 2 later this afternoon.
Up-and-coming women’s starlet Harriet Dart, 21, of Hampstead, will also be in action on Court 12 at 11.30am against number seven seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.
Katie Swan will be the youngest Brit at the tournament with the 19-year-old from Bristol taking on Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.
Swan has recently signed up with Sir Andy’s 77 Sports Management company and said he will effectively ‘be in her corner’ because he is always available to give advice – or have a chat about reality television like Love Island.
Two-time Wimbledon champion and former world number one Murray was due to face Frenchman Benoit Paire in the first round on Tuesday.
Murray is on the way back from hip surgery he underwent in January.
He has played three matches since returning to competitive action, losing against Nick Kyrgios at Queen’s then beating Stan Wawrinka in Eastbourne before losing against fellow Briton Kyle Edmund.