JOIN USClutching tickets won in a raffle, acquired through the local tennis club or bought at a charity auction, the fans huddled together on a chilly Centre Court all agreed - the Wimbledon women's quarterfinals were low on star names.
But the diehard aficionados ready to queue all night outside the grounds were delighted to find it took them only three hours to get in to watch what Britain's Times newspaper scornfully called "the women you've never heard of."
Five-times champion Serena Williams is out. Maria Sharapova has gone. In the last eight, household names are hard to come by as only three of the top 10 seeds made it into the last eight. Williams' unexpected downfall in the fourth round prompted American great John McEnroe to quip: "Serena's exit has kept this crazy tournament as crazy as it's ever been!"
With one of the quarterfinal line-ups now boasting a showdown between Sabine Lisicki and Kaia Kanepi, fans were feeling a little underwhelmed.
"It has lost its edge. We are slightly disappointed," confessed Daniel Francis, on Centre Court with his mother Breda with their tickets won in an auction.
But, eager to put a positive spin on a thoroughly British experience, he said: "I suppose it is good to see the underdogs just like we do in football with the FA Cup."
Jenny Gibbs, enjoying her Centre Court debut as a spectator, said: "I must say I was disappointed it wasn't men's tennis. That at the moment is so much better."
Dorothy Richardson agreed: "I am disappointed we are not going to see the stars."
Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska is the highest ranked survivor. Name a famous Belgian tennis player and most would pick Kim Clijsters or Justine Henin. Few would choose Kirsten Flipkens, one of the last eight at Wimbledon 2013.
Fans of British number one Andy Murray were fanatical enough to queue from Friday to Monday for a chance to see their hero in action. Such devotion does not stretch to the women's game. "Seeds are falling like flies," said Michael Ly, a tennis fan from Melbourne. Delighted that it took so little time to get in, he said: "This is a once in a lifetime thing to do."
Jonathan Down could not believe his luck in the queue. "We got Centre Court tickets as there is much less interest,’’ he added. But Sue Barker, former French Open winner and now a BBC presenter, argued that change was positive.
She told Reuters: "I would love to see Serena and Maria through but times change and times have to change. It's lovely to see new faces and get some new stories."