Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during the first round match against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
LONDON (Reuters) - The 132nd Wimbledon championships began under sunny skies on Monday with play commencing on the outside courts at 1030GMT.
Long queues snaked around the adjacent golf course as fans waited in soaring temperatures for ground admission to a bumper programme across 17 courts.
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Roger Federer fans on Centre Court. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Those lucky enough to hold Centre Court tickets were looking forward to watching defending champion Roger Federer launch his bid for a ninth title against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic.
Seven-times champion Serena Williams was also in action on day one as she began her first Wimbledon campaign as mother.
There is no Andy Murray, though, this year, the British favourite withdrawing on the eve of the tournament saying his right hip was still not ready for the rigours of Grand Slam tennis.
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Britain's Harriet Dart receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during the first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Tony O'Brien
Kyle Edmund and Johanna Konta will lead the home challenge, hoping to shift the spotlight from the England soccer team's pursuit of World Cup glory in Russia.
This year's championships are the 50th since tennis turned professional in 1968. That year Rod Laver and Billy Jean King launched Wimbledon into a new era and both will be honoured guests during the fortnight.
Swiss Federer, whose name will forever be with Laver and King in the pantheon of tennis greats, is just a few weeks shy of his 37th birthday but is favourite to retain his title having beaten Marin Cilic in the final a year ago.
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 . Varvara Lepchenko of the U.S. in action during the first round match against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Stepping on to the virgin Centre Court turf on the opening day is something he never takes for granted though.
"It remains a little bit nerve-wracking in all honesty. It's a big deal," Federer said. "Besides the history and the mythical place that it is, you cannot also practise on it.
"The entire atmosphere changes at Wimbledon, and you realise the eyes are on you. But I love it. It's a massive honour."
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 John Isner of the U.S. in action during the first round match against Germany's Yannick Maden REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
It is 10 years since Wimbledon witnessed by common consent its greatest men's final -- the five-set epic won by Rafael Nadal against Federer.
A decade on and the two old warriors have now shared the last six Grand Slam titles between them and few would bet against them squaring off again a week on Sunday.
Until then there are new stories to be written and new heroes to emerge and if the weather forecasters are correct a glorious fortnight is in store.
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 General view of a line judge during the first round match between France's Lucas Pouille and Denis Kudla of the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
(This refiled version of the story adds dropped word 'not' in paragraph five).
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Sam Querrey of the U.S. in action during the first round match against Australia's Jordan Thompson REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Britain's Harriet Dart during the first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Tony O'BrienTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Michael Mmoh of the U.S.A. plays a shot during his match against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 France's Lucas Pouille in action during the first round match against Denis Kudla of the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew CouldridgeTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Luxembourg's Gilles Muller in action against Michael Mnoh of the U.S.A. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 France's Lucas Pouille in action during the first round match against Denis Kudla of the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew CouldridgeTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 France's Lucas Pouille in action during the first round match against Denis Kudla of the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew CouldridgeTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Match officials eat lunch. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Ball girl holds umbrella. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Spectators drink champagne on Centre Court. REUTERS/Andrew BoyersTennis - Wimbledon Preview - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Order of play is adjusted. REUTERS/Peter NichollsTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Spectator takes pictures with his mobile phone. REUTERS/Peter NichollsTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Spectators drink champagne on Centre Court. REUTERS/Andrew BoyersTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 General view of seat umpires. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleTennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2018 Spectators arrive. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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