Tennis fans criticize the Wimbledon queue, describing it as the most problematic they have ever witnessed. Organizers issued a warning to new arrivals, stating that they were highly unlikely to gain entry to the grounds. Despite the initially pleasant weather, heavy rain later disrupted play on some courts in southwest London, leading organizers to advise against joining the queue in the early afternoon.
In a tweet, Wimbledon informed the public that the grounds were expected to reach full capacity, resulting in several hours of waiting for those already in the queue. They advised individuals planning to join the queue not to travel to Wimbledon. According to Becky Deeming, a communications and events manager from London, a steward mentioned that the delays were due to heightened security measures in response to potential protests.
Organizers had increased security arrangements after previous disruptions caused by the climate change group Just Stop Oil at sporting events like the Ashes, the Gallagher Premiership rugby final, and the World Snooker Championship. Ms.
Deeming, who arrived at 3:45 am, finally entered the grounds at 1:15 pm. She described the queue as the longest she had ever experienced, with no access to water and limited seating. Other attendees also expressed their surprise, stating that they had never seen the queue like this before, and some people even left due to the conditions.
Fans r disappointed in u. U r an elder stateman of tennis n you hav not joined #ptpa.
— Humphrey Anyakora (@emeanya) November 2, 2023
Who do u want 2 make d change if not d players? U prefer 2 criticize frm the sideline without doing much?
What have you done in your over 20 yrs in tennis to make it better after u leave?
According to Ms. Deeming, she had previously queued for Wimbledon in 2018 and had a much shorter wait time to enter the grounds. The recent experience was described as “such a bad experience” and it has made her hesitant about queuing in the future. Similarly, Filip Reha, who traveled from the Czech Republic for the tournament, mentioned that he had heard the delays were due to security issues.
He stated that in his previous visits to Wimbledon, they would arrive at around 8 am and get inside by around 12:30 pm, but this time the wait was particularly terrible. Melissa Donaldson, a 28-year-old from Guildford in Surrey, expressed her frustration and disappointment with the queuing experience at Wimbledon.
She had planned the visit for months but was unsure whether she would bother queuing in the future. Melissa and her friends arrived early in the morning after coordinating their schedules, but they remained in the same spot in the queue for five-and-a-half hours.
There was a lack of communication and updates from staff and Wimbledon officials, which added to the frustration. Melissa decided to leave when she learned that they hadn’t even reached 3,000 in the queue by 1 pm. She compared the queuing experience unfavorably to flight delays she had experienced in the past.
Michelle Martin, from Sydney, who had been to Wimbledon several times before, also expressed her disappointment with the queue. She mentioned that she had not moved in the queue since 7:30 am and found the lack of information provided to be poor. Her friend Naheed Tapya, from London, added that the absence of information made it difficult to make informed decisions.
According to AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton, increased security measures have been implemented at Wimbledon in response to incidents at other sporting events. She expressed confidence in the measures taken, although she acknowledged that guarantees cannot be made. Bag searches and selective body searches are being conducted at all gates, based on intelligence.
The club is also collaborating with behavioral detection officers from the Metropolitan Police. Certain items such as chalk dust or powder substances, cable ties, glue, chains, and padlocks have been prohibited this year. Visitors found with banned items may be denied entry or ejected from the grounds.
The Metropolitan Police have deployed a policing operation to ensure safety and respond to any incidents. Spectators were advised to prepare for scattered showers and possible travel disruptions. The first day of the tournament featured six British players for home fans to support, with the competition set to run until July 16.
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