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Wimbledon crowds face prospect of near washout on day five Wimbledon crowds face prospect of near washout on day five
(about 5 hours later)
Wimbledon faced the prospect of a near washout on Friday, with the scheduled start of play on outside courts passing with no let up in the showery rain forecast to remain almost continuous well in to the evening. Wimbledon faced the prospect of a near washout on Friday, with showery rain forecast to remain almost continuous well into the evening.
As 11.30am came and went, announcers told those inside the grounds to expect the rain to last "some time yet". The championships' own forecasters predicted no let up at all until late afternoon, with a good chance of some showers even after then. As the 11.30am scheduled start of play on outside courts came and went, announcers told those inside the grounds to expect the rain to last "some time yet". The championships' own forecasters predicted no letup at all until late afternoon, with a good chance of some showers even after then.
Under rules introduced in 2001, the organisers are obliged to refund fans their entire ticket price if they see less than an hour of play, or half the value if play lasts less than two hours. Under rules introduced in 2001, the organisers are obliged to refund fans their entire ticket price if they see less than an hour of play, or half the value if play lasts less than two hours. Despite the gloomy forecast, soon after play began under the Centre Court roof the rain abated and the covers were removed elsewhere. The clouds remained thick, though, bringing the prospect of more interruptions for showers.
Despite the fact that only live action was likely to be under the roof of Centre Court, thousands of people queued overnight. Rather than buying the few available tickets for the other show courts, many sprinted straight for the slippery grass slope known as Murray Mound or, to the die-hards, Henman Hill. Thousands of spectators had queued overnight. Rather than buying the few available tickets for the other show courts, many sprinted straight for the slippery grass slope known as Murray Mound or, to the diehards, Henman Hill.
There they set up elaborate umbrella shelters, the lucky ones on the few wooden picnic tables, while those less quick off the mark settled on blankets on the damp grass and consoled themselves with early picnics, generally complemented by alcohol.There they set up elaborate umbrella shelters, the lucky ones on the few wooden picnic tables, while those less quick off the mark settled on blankets on the damp grass and consoled themselves with early picnics, generally complemented by alcohol.
Among the best set up were a young quartet who had joined the queue at 5am and were still only 1,300th or so in the line. Luke Jackson and Chris Akkari, both 24, along with Holly Jackson, 26 and Georgie Watson, 26, had a network of umbrellas protecting an elaborate spread of blankets with food and Champagnelaid out on a linen cloth borrowed from their kitchen table. They had turned down the chance of Court One tickets to bag a decent spot on Murray Mound, guaranteeing they would at least see some tennis, albeit on a giant screen rather than live. Among the best set up were a young quartet who had joined the queue at 5am and were still 1,300th or so in the line. Luke Jackson and Chris Akkari, both 24, along with Holly Jackson, 26 and Georgie Watson, 26, had a network of umbrellas protecting an elaborate spread of blankets with food and champagne laid out on a linen cloth borrowed from their kitchen table. They had turned down the chance of Court One tickets to bag a decent spot on Murray Mound, guaranteeing they would at least see some tennis, albeit on a giant screen rather than live.
"We did wonder about going, given the weather forecast, but booked a cab before we went to bed so we didn't have a choice," said Luke Jackson of their 4am start from nearby Clapham in south London. "It's a pity about the weather, but we're having fun.""We did wonder about going, given the weather forecast, but booked a cab before we went to bed so we didn't have a choice," said Luke Jackson of their 4am start from nearby Clapham in south London. "It's a pity about the weather, but we're having fun."
In a sign of how innovations such as the Murray Mound screen has made Wimbledon more attractive to a younger demographic, one of the group, Akkari, confessed that he almost went to Glastonbury this weekend instead, but wasn't able to get tickets. In a sign of how innovations such as the Murray Mound screen have made Wimbledon more attractive to a younger demographic, one of the group, Akkari, confessed that he almost went to Glastonbury this weekend instead, but wasn't able to get tickets.
"There's definitely a bit of a Glastonbury-Wimbledon crossover," he said. "But Wimbledon is still much more posh.""There's definitely a bit of a Glastonbury-Wimbledon crossover," he said. "But Wimbledon is still much more posh."
"I was told off for running up the steps to get a table," said Holly Jackson. "I don't imagine that happens at Glastonbury.""I was told off for running up the steps to get a table," said Holly Jackson. "I don't imagine that happens at Glastonbury."
On offer for those assembled before the giant screen, as well as the lucky ones under the roof on Centre Court, was a double bill of British players. Laura Robson was scheduled to begin the action with her second round match against Colombia's Mariana Duque-Marino, with Andy Murray due third on court against the Spanish number 32 seed, Tommy Robredo.On offer for those assembled before the giant screen, as well as the lucky ones under the roof on Centre Court, was a double bill of British players. Laura Robson was scheduled to begin the action with her second round match against Colombia's Mariana Duque-Marino, with Andy Murray due third on court against the Spanish number 32 seed, Tommy Robredo.
In the meantime, Watson and friends were settling into their day. She said: "We started on beer in the queue. We've got another bottle of Champagne for later. Then it's the Pimm's." In the meantime, Watson and friends were settling into their day. She said: "We started on beer in the queue. We've got another bottle of champagne for later. Then it's the Pimm's."