NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED

Wimbledon is back on the sporting calendar. MARION McMULLEN looks at the state of play

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Serena Williams, below, will be hoping to add another Grand Slam title to the 23 she already has.

The record for the most Grand Slam singles titles is held by Australian Margaret Court.

Serena, 39, has won seven titles on Centre Court so it would be the fitting place to match the

record. 6

A total of 679 matches will be played in the tournament and 53,000 tennis balls used. There have been 250 ball boys and girls trained for the fortnight’s action. 1

The coronavirus pandemic meant there was no action at Wimbledon last year for the first time since the Second World War, but the tournament will be back on Monday – with some changes. All players must stay in an approved hotel and only travel to the tournament site. 7 This year two of the biggest names in the sport will be missing as two-time champion Rafael Nadal and world number two Naomi Osaka, above, have both withdrawn. Osaka has been taking time away from the court since withdrawing from the French Open for mental health reasons amid a furore around her refusal to fulfil media duties. 2

Players must not sign autographs or take selfies with fans, and access to the practice courts will be restricted. Ticket holders must wear face coverings while moving around the grounds, but not while seated on court. The food and drink spaces will have appropriate social distancing measures. 3

Spectator numbers will be restricted throughout the tournament until the two singles finals. The Government has allowed 21,000 spectators each day – half of its normal capacity – while Centre Court can seat full crowds of around 15,000 for the women’s and men’s finals. 8

Reduced numbers mean ticket holders might not munch their way through as many Wimbledon strawberries this year. The last tournament saw 191,930 portions sold along with 276,000 glasses of Pimms consumed, 22,000 bottles of champagne and more than 110,000 pints of beer and lager. 9

There is a lot of excitement about the return of the tournament. More than a million people have already downloaded the official app and 3.7 million are following the official Wimbledon Twitter account. 4

Two-time champion Andy Murray will be back competing in the singles for the first time since 2017 after being granted a wild card. The 34-year-old Scot has had two operations and a metal hip inserted since he limped out at the quarterfinal stage four years ago.

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The BBC will be covering the action with presenter and former tennis player Sue Barker at the helm. She will be joined by grand slam winners John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker, Billie Jean King, Tracy Austin, Wimbledon favourite Tim Henman and Andrew Castle.