Queue here for a full-on Wimbledon

Tennis fans all set as championships return to normal after the pandemic

- Elly Blake and John Dunne

WIMBLEDON bosses today hailed the return of the "buzz" to SW19 as final preparations were under way for the first full-capacity championships since the pandemic.

Covid saw the tennis championships cancelled in 2020 and last year the All England Club took the decision to limit crowd numbers.

But this year spectators will attend in full force for the first time since 2019 as the championships get back to normal on Monday - including the return of the famous queue. Last year queueing for entry on the day was scrapped, with all tickets sold online.

In previous years, up to 10,000 people have queued for ground tickets for a day's play including the fans who camp overnight for a limited number of "golden" show court tickets.

Similar numbers are expected this year and Wimbledon hailed it as a "bucket list" event for fans.

Operations director Michelle Dite said: "We're expecting a really big buzz and people turning up wanting to be part of it. People really want to go and have a queue experience. They spend hours meeting different people from all over the world. It's a great vibe and I think for many it's one of the things they really enjoy doing.