Though it wasn’t Andy’s Wimbledon this year, it was probably my most successful Wimbledon yet. Not one visit, but two: one in the queue as a punter, the other as a member of the tennis elite, strolling in after brunch in Wimbledon village, smug with ticket in hand. Following on from my last blog post “So You Want To Go To Wimbledon?”, I thought it could be useful to illustrate my step-by-step guide to queuing at Wimbledon to demonstrate that anyone can”wim” at Wimbledon. I mean, at least in 2018 you can?!
Step 1. Wake up at 5am. Take obligatory sunrise photo and post it on Facebook so the world knows you’re going to Wimbledon.
Step 2. Meet friends at 6.30am outside Southfields station. Be thankful that you were only 5 minutes late, and not 30 minutes late like you were two years ago. Follow signs and crowds to the start of the queue. Join queue at approximately 7am, receive your queuing card (essential for getting into the grounds) and tweet ViewfromtheQ to let them know the status of the queue (please note, tweeting is not mandatory, it’s just helpful for your fellow Wimbledon fans).
Step 3. Enjoy the queue. Take natural photos like the one below. Go for multiple walks. Try a delicious iced coffee from one of the food outlets. Get told you won’t be allowed to take your Scottish flag inside the grounds so hide it in the depths of your backpack.
Step 4. But not before you take a group photo with your flags.
Step 5. Make slow progress in the queue. Make friends with the people next to you in the queue so they can take group photos for you.
Step 6. Pay £25 for a grounds-pass and enter the grounds around 13:05. Take a photo to remember how joyful you felt. Check out the order of play and if interested in the players on Court Number 3 (Oh hi, Nishikori) get yourself in another queue to get a seat.
Step 7. Having not been deterred by the length of the Court 3 unreserved seating queue, get on Court Number 3 court and feel extremely pleased with yourself. Watch Nishikori win a set but then ultimately lose. Mixed emotions.
Step 8. Get some bargainous strawberries and cream for £2.50 and then some less bargainous Pimms for £7.50, battle through the crowds to find a small space of grass on the hill and sit back and watch the tennis on Murray Mound (Henman Hill).
Step 9. From your perch on the hill, watch a third-round battle on Centre Court between Murray and Fognini, realise the match isn’t going to be over in a hurry so join the ticket resale queue and get yourself a cracking seat on Centre Court for £10.
Step 10. Scream your way to an Andy victory!
cat mac birthday slam 