Tennis fans were given a shock on Monday morning after being told to stay away from Wimbledon as it is already ‘at capacity’.

Earl’s Court tube station, a popular changeover point en route to Wimbledon, was packed with tennis fans who had flown in from all over the world.

And the Met Office suggested today was ‘the warmest start to Wimbledon on record’.

The Queue is incredibly popular in the opening week and fans had been in it since the early hours of the day in order to make it into the grounds for Day One.

Those who had opted for a slightly later lie-in faced disappointment then when they were told that non-ticket holders risk not getting in.

There were also warnings that travellers faced at best ‘several hours’ waiting in the queue with temperatures soaring for the rest of the day.

An update from Wimbledon’s official website on Monday read: ‘Please be aware that the Queue for Day 1 – Monday 30th June – is very busy and to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you not to travel to the Grounds today.

Fans have been in the Queue at Wimbledon as they bid to get in on the tournament’s first day

Hundreds waited overnight with Wimbledon telling fans that the queue is ‘at capacity’

The tournament is set to have its hottest ever opening day with temperatures reaching 34C

‘Please note there is hot weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday. In both The Queue and the Grounds there may be periods where shade is not available. 

‘Please plan appropriately, including bringing water, suncream and a hat. Water refill points are available in the Queue and around the Grounds.’

The Queue offers fans the chance to buy limited Show Court tickets or a Grounds ticket, which are sold on a best available, one per person queuing basis.

A total of 500 tickets for Centre Court – excluding last four days – No.1 Court, and No.2 Court are available for the days that the courts are in play.

Ahead of the tournament Wimbledon warned fans to check the status of the Queue before travelling, with the tournament having a maximum grounds capacity of 42,000 spectators.

On fan in the queue claimed over 9,000 people were in the line for day one just after 7am this morning.

Fans in the queue could be faced with predicted temperatures of 34 degrees as they aim to enter the grounds for the first day of play.

Umbrellas were being used not to protect from the rain but instead shield from the sun on the opening day of Wimbledon – said to be the warmest start to the annual tennis tournament ever

Spectators are seen soaking up the morning sunshine as this year’s event got under way today

The Met Office provisionally described today as the ‘warmest start to Wimbledon on record’

Earl’s Court tube station was packed with tennis fans as they travelled to the All England Club

Wimbledon have warned there will be parts of the Queue and the grounds without shade

Hundreds of fans camped on Wimbledon Park overnight to secure places in the Queue

Fans in the queue could be faced with intense heat with temperatures predicted to reach 34C

Some in the queue have already taken to using umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun

Tennis fans lay down and rest as they queue for tickets on the first day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

Tennis fans protect themselves from the sun as they queue for tickets

Tennis fans dressed as Sweden’s tennis player Bjorn Borg (L) and US tennis player John McEnroe (R)

Tennis fans queue for tickets on the first day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

A record was expected to be smashed for the hottest start to the tournament, with the previous highest of 29.3C being recorded back in 2001. 

The queue starts in Wimbledon Park and fans were allowed to begin lining up on Sunday at 2pm, 20 hours before the grounds officially opened for the opening day.

Wimbledon has a dedicated Queue Village, an area where fans can have refreshments, take part in partner activations and watch the tennis on a big screen as they await entry.

Those at the front of the queue are invited to the village when the grounds have reached capacity, while waiting for tickets to become available.

Screen messages are displayed inviting guests to buy tickets from the ticket sales kiosk when there is room in the grounds.

The temperature could lead to Wimbledon applying a heat rule for matches during the day.

The heat rule will allow players to have a 10-minute break when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is at or above 30.1 degrees Celsius. 

The heat index is a measure, which factors together the air temperature, the humidity and the surface temperature and is measured by a heat stress monitor. Readings are taken 30 minutes prior to the start of play and then at 14.00 and 17.00.

One fan claimed over 9,000 people were in the Queue just after 7am on the opening day 

Fans potentially face a long wait to enter the grounds amid the record opening day temperature

Wimbledon could be forced to implement their heat rule for matches on the opening day

The heat rule could allow players to have a 10 minute break during the matches

Wimbledon fans donning strawberry hats hoping to get tickets this morning

Spectators wait in the baking sun in Wimbledon Park  

One group of six best friends from the US are set for another two or three hours in the queue after joining at 7am and flying eight and a half hours to the UK Pictured: Laurie, Jennie, Amy, Sandra, Lydia and Lindy

A few people try and find shelter from the heat under umbrellas

People queue at the entrance on the first day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Maria and her family in the overnight queue on day one of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

People queue at the entrance on the first day of the Wimbledon tennis tournament

A spectator in the overnight on day one of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London

A view of the Wimbledon queue of tents close to the All England Club in south-west London

Much of England is experiencing a fourth day of a heatwave, forecast to be hotter than holiday spots in Barbados, Jamaica and Mexico

A second amber heat health alert in two weeks came into force on Friday

People enter the queue at Wimbledon park 

A man brushes his teeth this morning ahead of the queue opening 

Only one of the players participating in the match needs to request the break for the rule to be implemented.

Wimbledon state that the rule will apply after the second set for all best of three set matches, and after the third for all best of five set matches.

‘Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment.

The heat rule will not apply to matches played under the roofs.

There have been health warnings issued by experts amid the rising temperatures. 

Dr Leslie Mabon, senior lecturer in environmental systems at the Open University, said today: ‘The extreme high temperatures we are seeing in the UK are being exacerbated by the same phenomenon that is causing the heat dome across Europe.

‘The “heat dome” happens when an area of high pressure air stays over the same area for days or weeks, trapping hot air below it which then expands outwards like a dome.

‘In the UK, heat-related illnesses, greater risk for this with pre-existing conditions, and wildfires can all come about because of heatwaves.

‘This is another reminder that climate change makes extremes like this more frequent or intense.’

Dr Chloe Brimicombe, climate scientist at the Royal Meteorological Society, said: ‘Heatwaves and hot spells in the summer are increasing in duration, how often they occur and intensity, how hot temperatures get to.

‘We also think they are growing in area so more people are exposed every time they occur.

“Beyond heat killing people, they cause a rise in hospitalisations especially in the vulnerable groups.’