Fans welcome to Wimbledon on the first day of the tennis championships

Thousands of fans have started walking towards Wimbledon gates after the Love Island star Kem Cetinay opened the first checkpoint for the first day of the championships.

The Show 2017 winner began a short countdown before shouting: Let’s go and run through the arch at Wimbledon Park.

First in line was Julia Barker, 47, who followed the celebrity with her green queue ticket, stamped with the number one, alongside her husband. Nicky54, and son Dan, 23.

The family, which has lived in Ireland for more than 20 years but comes from Latvia, has been camping since 7:30 on Saturday.

Dan told the PA news agency: We didn’t expect to be the first.

He said they had hoped to get tickets for Center Court or Court One.

Then we realized there was no one here, he added.

Spectators had been warned to pack raincoats and umbrellas in case of showers, but south-west London was sunny and blue skies on Monday morning.

Warnings had also been given about possible travel disruptions Insult announced last month that its members would cancel non-contractual overtime with 35 rail operators in 16 countries for six days starting Monday.

The home fans will have six British players to cheer on on the first day of the tournament Dan EvansJodie Burrage, Katie Swan, Jan Choinski, Harriet Dart and Liam Broady.

Over the past couple of months, Evans has criticized other British players for not playing enough tournaments, hit out at the elitist nature of the sport and claimed that Emma Raducanus’ US Open was won by domestic cracks.

The 33-year-old will face Frances Quentin Halys on Monday.

Obviously I’m looking forward to it, he said. Its a great experience at Wimbledon to play here and win matches here, so my goal is to get past the first round.

Burrage is yet to win a singles match at the All England Club but was involved in one of the tournament’s most popular stories last year when he offered a Marks and Spencer treat to a ball boy who was unwell.

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The Percy Pig incident meant Burrage’s disappointment of a first round defeat was forgotten and she will be hoping it can be third time lucky on Monday when she takes on American Caty McNally.

“I played him at the US Open last year,” Burrage said. I’ll rewatch that match. He’s a tough opponent and actually on grass he’s going to be really dangerous. I enjoy the challenge.

Swan expressed his hope that a strong performance at Wimbledon might encourage Elton John to visit SW19 to support him after signing with Rocket Entertainment, the management company set up by the music superstar.

She will face 14th-ranked Belinda Bencic on Monday.

“Everyone here is tough, but obviously he’s an Olympic gold medalist and he’s accomplished so much in his career,” Swan said.

I was excited when I saw the draw. Court Two is the biggest court I’ve played on here, so I’m really excited about it. I’ll be back and I think home support is fun there.

Monetary Djokovic He will also play his first match on Monday as he begins his bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title and eight Wimbledon wins, the latter matching Roger Federers’ record.

Clare Balding will succeed Sue Barker this year as the BBC’s face of Wimbledon after the latter celebrated 30 years of national coverage of the All England Club last summer.

Former England cricketer Isa Guha shares the presenting duties and has backed Balding as the consummate professional.

The contest runs from Monday, July 3 to Sunday, July 16.