LONDON — The All England Club gates swung open a week later than usual for the start of the 129th Wimbledon Championships on Monday with sunshine greeting the world's top players and fans streaming in to watch them.
Men's defending champion Novak Djokovic was due to open proceedings on Centre Court -- his first competitive match since losing the French Open final to Stanislas Wawrinka.
Sixteen grand slam champions start in the men's and women's singles, with several featuring a packed opening day schedule, including Wawrinka and Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt who will be making his final bow at the tournament he won in 2002.