WIMBLEDON COURT REPORT: Strict searches as the All England Club seek to stamp out Just Stop Oil

The 2023 edition of Wimbledon got underway on Monday and there was plenty of entertainment for the crowds at the All England Club.

Novak Djokovic began his title defence with victory in a match that saw him drying the surface with his own towel while there were shock exits for Venus Williams and Coco Gauff.

Here, Sportsmail’s Kieran Gill takes a look at some of the biggest talking points after day one.

Looking for a pulse?

Just Stop… Lentils? Visitors can expect strict bag searches as the All England Club are wary of Just Stop Oil activists and their orange powder. 

They even tested their security by having undercover agents try to smuggle in orange lentils during practice week.

Underarm tactics

In the absence of Nick Kyrgios, his fellow Australian Max Purcell tried his trademark underarm serve against Andrey Rublev. 

It did not work as the ball hit the net, but his second serve was an ace. Purcell went on to lose limply as Rublev won 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 93 minutes.

Volynets misses mark 

‘Nominative determinism’ is the theory that your name influences your job choice. In football, we’ve had Mark De Man, the defender. 

The sprinter Usain Bolt. American Katie Volynets is at SW19. Well, she was. She lost yesterday as she overhit a groundstroke!

Federer parachutes in 

Roger Federer will visit on Tuesday to celebrate his achievements on Centre Court. Yet that may only be the eight-time champion’s second-coolest outing this week. 

He made a cameo at Coldplay’s concert in Zurich on Sunday to help perform Don’t Panic.

Change for better 

Women are now allowed to wear coloured undershorts after the famous all-white rule was relaxed to ease anxiety around periods. 

Victoria Azarenka was among those who sported black beneath her white during a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Yue Yuan of China yesterday.

Victoria Azarenka was among those who sported black beneath her white on Monday

Nice work if you can get it 

The honour of the first win of Wimbledon 2023 went to Barbora Strycova. The Czech took only 84 minutes to beat Maryna Zanevska 6-1, 7-5. 

The Belarusian earned £55,000 for her troubles, meaning she made £654.76 a minute on Court Five.

The Isners have landed  

Wimbledon Village has been invaded by the Isners. All staying in the same rented house, there is John — the 38-year-old who made history here with a 11-hour, five-minute win over Nicolas Mahut in 2010 — plus his wife, Maddie, and their four children. Isner lost 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 4-6 against Jaume Munar.