It started with a whimper. Then came a gurgle, followed by a high-pitched wail as 15,000 pairs of accusing eyes searched the crowd for the source of the disturbance. On court, Roger Federer smacked his serve into the net. Welcome to Wimbledon 2016, where the prime irritant this year is not the braying corporate guest but the screaming babe-in-arms.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club’s rules on children are usually watertight. No under-fives on the show courts. Older kids must have a full-price ticket. Under-16s should be accompanied by an adult. So imagine my surprise when, last week, I found myself sitting close to a man holding his infant son on Centre Court. After a handful of games, during which the small boy distracted almost everyone, his father carted him off.

I was reminded of the incident the following day, when I saw a photograph of Kim Murray wheeling her four-month-old daughter through the grounds, on the way to watch husband Andy. Officials, we were told, had turned a blind eye to the buggy. A Wimbledon spokesperson insisted the rules around children are strict – but it certainly didn’t look that way to me.

Baby Sophia was, at least, being deposited in the SW19 crèche, which comes fully stocked with nappies, milk, mini tennis sets and nannies. But Murray has already said how keen he is to have his daughter watch him win titles. How long can it be before we see her gurgling court-side?