Grand slam greats mark Wimbledon Centre Court centenary

Wimbledon’s Centre Court has erupted with singing, crying and rapturous applause as tennis fans saw grand slam greats from across the decades stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the hallowed grass.

Twenty-six previous champions including Sir Andy Murray, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal and Billie Jean King waved to ecstatic spectators in a short ceremony marking 100 years of action on the main court.

Veteran tennis broadcasters Sue Barker and John McEnroe introduced the players as they entered in order of how many Championships they have won.

Each was greeted with applause and fans got to their feet and cheered when the record eight-time Wimbledon winner, Roger Federer, strode on to the court wearing a suit and tie with white trainers.

The crowd also sang along with a live rendition of Summer Holiday by Sir Cliff Richard, who was a guest in the royal box for middle Sunday.

American former number one King wore a bright pink blazer and blew kisses to the crowd.

During an on-court interview with the BBC’s Barker, she said: “As a 17-year-old I played my first match ever here at Wimbledon.

“I had two days on this court. It was magical and wonderful and I knew I belonged here.”

She paid tribute to nine-time Wimbledon winner and her friend, Martina Navratilova, who was wiped out of the line-up by coronavirus.

Navratilova had been due to attend with Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who also had to cancel her royal box slot on Sunday morning.

Novak Djokovic, the favourite to win the men’s singles this year, said it was an “absolute honour and privilege” to be sharing the court with “the legends of our sport” and revealed he was more nervous than when he had been playing.

The Serbian 20-time grand slam winner said: “Definitely this court