Surrey: Andy Murray is looking forward to playing in front of what he hopes will be a substantial crowd at Wimbledon.
The tournament, cancelled in 2020, begins on 28 June, seven days after all Covid restrictions could be lifted in England.
A final decision on numbers will be delayed as long as possible, with tickets due to go on sale in June.
“For me, it would make a huge difference,” said two-time champion Murray.
“Hopefully we can get some good crowds in. We’ve heard 30 per cent, but I don’t know if that’s 30 per cent of their usual capacity but they’ll be allowed to have Centre Court and Court One full. So we’ll see.
“At the beginning I didn’t miss it (crowds) that much, I was just pumped to be competing again. But, as the weeks go on, that’s kind of what you play for, to play in front of big crowds and play in great atmospheres. It’s something that I’ve definitely missed.”
Murray, 33, lives just a short drive away from Wimbledon but will need to stay at a designated hotel within a “biosecure bubble”, in line with ATP protocols.
“Obviously I would way rather not be staying in a hotel,” said the former world number one. “It would be a shame but, if that’s what we’ve got to do to keep everyone safe, then that’s what we’ll do.
“We’ve been told that the ticketing for Wimbledon is going to be vastly reduced for the players for family. It would be very odd playing at Wimbledon without, not just being able to see your family, but not having them there to support in the matches as well.
“That’s the times we’re living in. Hopefully, if we keep going with the vaccinations, there’ll be a possibility for family members and friends that have been vaccinated to come in. If not, that’s what it will have to be this year.”
Murray has never lost a singles match before the third round at the All England Club, and reached at least the quarter-finals every year between 2008 and his last appearance in 2017.