Andy Murray has yet to decide if he is fit enough to play at Wimbledon, but fans have been queueing since Saturday for the chance to see the Scot play in what could be his last singles game at SW19.
The twice former champion, 37, had surgery nine days ago to remove a cyst on his spine and revealed at a press conference on Sunday that he did not yet have “100%” feeling in his right leg.
He said he expected to decide on Monday evening whether or not he would compete in the men’s singles on Tuesday, but the uncertainty did not stop Murraymania from hitting SW19 a day early.
Catherine, from Belgium, had been queueing since 10am on Saturday and was the first in line for tickets to see Murray play in his first-round match against Tomas Machac on Tuesday.
“I’ll be very happy and sad at the same time, because I know it’s probably going to be the last time,” she said.
The 33-year-old said she had been a fan of Murray for the last 20 years, adding: “I’ve been a fan for a long, long time – since he started, really. So I really like him, like his playing style.”
Scottish mother and daughter Christine Small, 63, from Peterhead, and Lorna Kennedy, 40, from Dundee, had been queueing to see Murray since 9am on Sunday.
“He feels like one of our own,” said Small. “He’s done so well and he’s just been so good for the sport.”
Kennedy said seeing him would be “emotional”, adding: “I don’t actually care if he just walks out and plays two games and says ‘I’m done’, I’ve been able to cheer him one last time on Centre Court and that would be enough.”
Murray, who has a metal hip, had keyhole surgery last Saturday after struggling with a back problem at Queen’s Club earlier this month. He was told that he would be out for six to 12 weeks and had no chance of making it to Wimbledon.
But on Sunday he said he was getting stronger by the day and was “OK with a few stitches coming loose” if he was able to play. He is also hoping to play in the doubles with his brother, Jamie.
Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said fans would be “absolutely desperate” to see Murray play and hinted that there could be a statue for him when he retires.
“All of the fans coming here will be absolutely keen to see Andy, there’s no doubt about that and so we would love to see him on court. Of course, if he isn’t, we’ve got plenty of other tennis going on, but I know that the fans will be absolutely desperate to see him play so we wish him well in getting on court,” she said.
Tennis fans flocked to Wimbledon on the opening day of the 137th championships, with the All England Club having to advise people at 9am not to travel to the grounds to join the already busy queue.
The former US Open champion Emma Raducanu was the first British player to make it through to the second round after defeating Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 on Centre Court. Moments later, British No 4 Lily Miyazaki joined Raducanu in the second round, following earlier defeats for Britons Heather Watson, Charles Broom, Arthur Fery and Liam Broady.
Blase Walton, 41, was the first person in the queue after three years of trying, having camped in Wimbledon Park since Friday. “I’m pretty excited,” he said. “We are going to see, Centre Court, [Carlos] Alacaraz, Raducanu, Coco Gauff.”
Becky Okell, 31, who joined the queue from east London, said: “It’s amazing that people have already put their tents up for tomorrow. That’s commitment. I hope Murray plays. I would love to see his last match. It would be very emotional.”
