It was amazingly well organised, to the point where we hardly noticed that we'd waited 4 hours just to get in the gate. Other organisations should take note - this is how to do it and keep your crowds happy! It really was phenomenal; my queue card number was 7965, and we were there 2 hours before the gates even opened. We even got freebies along the way - sunscreen, muesli bars and, best of all, strawberries! One tradition out of the way before we'd even got inside.
The girls and I with our queue cards.
Once we got it, we tried to take a moment to get our bearings. The girls were in desperate need of a potty break (have to say bless teaching - ensures you can hold it for a REALLY long time!). The nearest toilets were beside the Wimbledon Shop, so naturally that's where we wandered. We all ended up buying the same cap, which made for some good photos.
Next up it was time to watch some tennis. We started on the nearest court to where we were standing, which was a boys singles game. Not a bad introduction to the tennis - got us in the mood for bigger games. We had bought ground passes, which allowed us to see any court except Centre Court, and Courts 1 and 2. This didn't really matter, as it was early enough in the Championship for high ranking players to be on outside courts.
We left the boys and headed over to Court 18 to see what was going on there. It's a bigger court, kind of the next step down from the 3 big ones. We had to wait for a change of ends and for seats to free up, but we waited, as it was Ai Sugiyama and Alisa Kleybanova (who lost in her next round to Venus Williams). It was Sugiyama's 16th Wimbledon in a row, so although she lost, we saw some amazing tennis. We hung around for the next match, which was Jurgen Meltzer and Arnaud Clement. Clement lost to Rainer Schuettler in an epic quarter final match the other day. It was blazing hot, and we were facing the sun, which didn't help matters. The girls gave up after the first set, but I rated it, so I stayed for the second.
Ai Sugiyama
Jurgen Meltzer
Arnaud Clement
I ended up leaving at the end of the second set, as it was just too damn hot. I never thought I'd say that in England! Just before I left, I looked across to the box where the players and supporters sit, and who should stand up but Alicia Molik. I was too slow trying to get my camera back out though, so no pics.
I caught up with the girls, who were watching a mens doubles game, and we headed over to the practice courts. We weren't quite sure who the players were there, but lets just say their groans were forced and fake. Totally wrong. From there we wandered back towards Court 18 so that I could see who'd one the match I'd been watching, but it was still going. We stopped for a bite to eat, and took a seat on Henman Hill (or Murray Mound as it's being called now), to watch the big screen. Andy Murray was playing Tommy Haas.
From there we stood around waiting to get back into Court 18. The Clement/Meltzer game finished, and we went in. We watched a mixed doubles game, followed by a women's doubles game. It's so quick!
After that, it was about 8.30pm, and we'd been sitting in the sun all day, so we made a move home. Finally, at 11.30, I was home and SO ready for bed! All in all, awesome day, awesome weather, awesome experience.
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