The two-year wait for tennis at Wimbledon ended on Monday as the action finally got underway, following a delayed start due to bad weather.

Fans were back at the All-England Club after last year’s tournament did not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The play was due to start on the outside courts at 11:00 a.m., but more rain prompted organisers to push it back to not before 1:30 p.m.

But action on Court One began under the roof at 1:00 p.m., 30 minutes before Centre Court, with Aryna Sabalenka taking on Monica Niculescu.

The gates had opened half an hour earlier than normal at 10:00 a.m. to allow extra time for spectators to complete the necessary checks.

With Wimbledon part of the Government’s Events Research Programme, fans are required to show proof of either full vaccination, a negative coronavirus test, or immunity through a recent infection.

Meanwhile, all tickets are electronic.

Capacity for the first week of the tournament is 50 per cent, rising to 100 per cent for the finals weekend.

Spectators are required to wears masks while walking around the grounds but not while seated at the courts.

Monday’s schedule which included 19-year-old Jack Draper taking on defending champion Novak Djokovic saw the latter win in four sets while two-time winner Andy Murray’s match against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Centre Court was suspended.

(dpa/NAN)