Anyone for a spot of tennis?

Tennis writer Simon Chambers reveals the secrets behind the Wimbledon experience

THE QUEUE

If an alien were to land in Wimbledon (come on, it could happen) then they might think that Earth people were obsessed with staying up all night and forming themselves into long, snaking lines that move at a snail’s pace. For one fortnight every summer, they’d be pretty right for the Wimbledon queue is an institution in its own right. Leave the grounds late in the evening and you’ll see people already camped out for the next day, trying to take advantage of the tickets that go on sale each morning on the gate, first come, first served. The people who camp out have a camaraderie of their own but if you’re thinking of doing it this year yourselves, don’t bother bringing any kind of gazebo, because security guards will take it off you, for some unknown reason. A total of 500 Centre Court tickets, 500 Court No 1 tickets and 500 Court No 2 tickets are available each morning on the gate, together with thousands of ground passes, which gain you entry to any of the other courts.