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We blagged Wimbledon Centre Court tickets and sat among VIPs, its so much easier than everyone thinks

Mirror reporter Sam Elliott-Gibbs gives away some Wimbledon secrets after getting his hands on front-row Centre Court tickets to see seven-time champion Novak Djokovic

[Three young men with Wimbledon Centre Court in the bacxkground]

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Sam, Josh Somers and Louis Dyson scored some Centre Court tickets

It's widely acknowledged as sport's mission impossible: just how do you get onto Centre Court to see tennis' biggest stars when hundreds of thousands have tried and failed?

Of course it helps if you're able to shell out thousands on those ticket resale websites, or if you're a celebrity invited by one of Wimbledon's keen-to-impress partners. But it is also pretty handy if you're willing to slap on a smile and ask an awkward question or two.

On Monday, three of us took on The Queue hoping to catch some action on the outside courts. As the clock touched 4pm, thwarting fears the grounds were at capacity and the blazing sun, we were in. Very red after a scorching wait, and very ready for some tennis. But as we necked some oddly great value 2.50 strawberries and cream, reality soon dawned that we would likely only catch one match.

[Sam posing in front of Wimbledon Centre Court]

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There's a hack to get onto the showcourts at Wimbledon

When you're at Wimbledon, the majesty of Centre Court always looms over you. Everyone wants to be inside, but only a small percentage have access. It's so close you can touch it, and envy and annoyance kicks in when you're sat on Henman Hill watching the action unfold and you're glaring at hundreds of empty seats.

As 7pm approached and armed with the theory 'you don't ask, you don't get', it was time to swing into action. Telling my friends to stay by their phones as they itched to see Novak Djokovic, I headed for Centre Court with a mission in mind.

What many people don't realise is that some people, especially those who haven't paid to go, are happy with a long afternoon of tennis. They're ready to head for home long before the gates shut. Those people are your prime targets!

Stationing myself at the end of the stairwell, it was the perfect spot to seek out and chat to those making their escape after just one set.

[An RAF serviceman steward looks over Wimbledon Centre Court]

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It wasn't a bad view on Centre Court!

[Crowds at Wimbledon Centre Court]

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Josh and Louis had the VIP seats

Then, it was all about the eye-contact and asking if they were leaving, or just grabbing some food. It was too late for people to hand their tickets back for the charity resale, so unless they wanted them as a souvenir of their day, chances are they would be open to "letting someone who has never been on Centre Court have the opportunity of a lifetime" (OK, I didn't tell them I wasn't talking about myself!).

After a number of knock-backs, a few pesky untransferable digital tickets and even some encouragement from legendary Manchester United defender Denis Irwin, my luck was in. A lady who had clearly enjoyed her day quaffing free drinks staggered out with her friend. After making me promise I wasn't going to resell them, she handed over her VIP lanyards and told me to make use of them.

[Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon]

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Novak Djokovic put on quite a show(Image: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Two down, one to go. An American gent came into focus and after telling me he had a flight to catch, he didn't think twice. We were all in, and it was time to tell the disbelievers that in was mission accomplished.

As my impressed friends took their place next to Big Brother host AJ Odudu, I found mine - on the front row! The great news was that Chinese prospect Wu Yibing wasn't giving seven-time champion Novak an inch. The roof came over as he took the second set, meaning the match many had left early could go the distance.

There was even time to nip out for some food. On the way back I took a risk and came clean to the steward who had probably watched my begging attempts as I waited to be allowed back on.

"People do it all the time, it's not discouraged," he told me. "When people leave it's better for Wimbledon to have people in seats than them being left empty."

The sisters who I sat next to weren't as impressed by my game plan. "We paid nearly 500!" one of them told me, before accepting it was probably fair reward after eight hours in the queue. Now that's what you call an ace day!

Wimbledon told us: "As guests leave the site, we encourage them to return their ticket so that people holding Grounds Passes have the opportunity to re-purchase them at Ticket Resale.

"Centre Court tickets are 15 and No.1/No.2 Courts are 10. Last year we raised 195,000 for the Wimbledon Foundation via Ticket Resale, supported by Barclays. The money supports a variety of causes including small charities helping to meet social needs and local homelessness charities. "

[Sam Elliott-Gibbs]

Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Sam is a freelance journalist with a background in football and sports writing. He has a keen interest in non-league football but is knowledgeable across all sports. He will also occasionally write about the latest showbiz and celebrity news

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