Wimbledon: British legendary tennis tradition

Born in the heart of London’s Wimbledon district, the tournament is arguably the most prestigious and legendary tennis championship in the world. Wimbledon has become a symbol of British tradition and a showcase of tennis excellence for the world. In this article, we will delve into the great history of this iconic tournament, explore the unique traditions and recall some of the memorable moments and the celebrities who have graced it.

The birth of Wimbledon: history and evolution

The history of Wimbledon goes back to 1877 when it was still called the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. That year the club was going through hard times: low public interest in croquet, ground rent increase and other financial difficulties. Looking for solutions, the club management decided to experiment, and for the first time, a tennis tournament was organised to attract visitors and raise money.

In the beginning, it was simple. The first tournament of 1877 involved only 22 tennis players competing on the grass courts, and they were exclusively men. The entry fee for the sportsmen was just one guinea and for spectators a ticket cost one shilling. Participation in the tournament was open to all, and there were no qualifying rounds. The winner received 12 guineas in prize money and a silver challenge cup. Spencer Gore took the first Wimbledon title with 200 spectators watching the finals. An intriguing fact about the tournament is that the profit of 17 guineas was spent on the purchase of a new lawnmower, which now holds pride of place in the Museum of Wimbledon. By the way, from the very beginning, Wimbledon set high quality standards. The grass courts are meticulously maintained and mowed to a height of exactly 8 millimetres.

It’s curious that the organisers invite hawk owners to scare away pigeons flying over the courts. In the past, athletes had to fend off birds right during the games.

As for the Ladies’ Singles, it was first introduced at Wimbledon in 1884, and it was an important step towards gender equality in sports and a benchmark for other tournaments.

Wimbledon arena as symbol of tradition and evolution

In 1922, the club and with it the Wimbledon tournament moved to a new venue, Church Road. The opening ceremony was attended by King George V himself. The new Centre Court could fit in over 14,000 spectators, and the Royal Box was designed for 75 people. The construction of the new tennis complex took two years and cost £140,000. Сentre Сourt became the main attraction for spectators.

There is a fantastic view over the Wimbledon Central Arena from Henman’s Hill. There is also a large screen on the hill to watch matches. A retractable roof was installed over Centre Court in 2009. Thanks to it, tournaments are no longer as susceptible to inclement weather conditions.

Court One is considered the second most important arena of Wimbledon. It is sometimes even called the people’s court. It was built in 1928 and at first had a capacity of over 7,000 people. However, in 1997 it was replaced by a new building, which could already seat 11,500 spectators. This court, like the main arena of Wimbledon, consists of four levels.The upper level was constructed in such a way that it was not higher than Centre Court out of respect to the main Wimbledon arena.Where Court One use to be, there is now the Millennium Building that houses toilets for athletes and guests, locker rooms and a press room.

Court Two is famous for its unusual and at the same time sad nickname – «The Graveyard of Champions». This is because even experienced and titled players often perform unsuccessfully there. American tennis star Pete Sampras recalled in his autobiography A Champion’s Mind that a mere mention of his upcoming match on Court Two in 2002 made him nervous and prevented him from concentrating during the match. In Sampras’ opinion, Court Two is too crowded for spectators who are close to the sideline. Besides, the noise from the neighbouring Court Three often distracts the players. On a summer day in 2002, Sampras’ match against Swiss tennis player George Bastl, ranked 145^th, ended in defeat for the champion, and he suffered an early exit from Wimbledon.The reputation of «The Graveyard of Champions» became so strong that in 2009 it was renamed Court Three, and in 2011 it was demolished and a new court was built in its place.

Modern Wimbledon has 18 grass courts, two of which (Centre Court and Court One) are used only during the tournament, i.e. once a year.

History of Wimbledon trophies

In 1887, the new Wimbledon men’s trophy was introduced, ten years after the first tournament. Prior to this, there had been other cups such as the Field Cup (1877-1883) and the Challenge Cup (1884-1886), with both being awarded to the same Wimbledon champion after three wins in a row. William Renshaw managed to get both cups, winning Wimbledon six times in a row from 1881 to 1886 and once in 1889.

It was later decided not to give the trophy to the winner, but instead to present the champion with a 13.7 inches replica of it, engraved with the names of previous champions.

The Men’s Wimbledon trophy is made of silver gilt, stands 18 inches high and has a diameter of 7.5 inches. It is an example of the classic style with a high base, solid handles and images of heads in helmets with horns. The cup has floral patterns around it and a pineapple on its lid. The history of the pineapple image on the cup remains a mystery, however, a spokesperson for the Wimbledon Museum revealed their theory:«In the 17th century pineapples were impossible to grow in the UK and they had to be imported, so being presented with one at a feast was seen as a great compliment. You might have seen pineapples being used on gateposts of stately homes as you travel around the UK».

The Wimbledon Women’s Cup is a round dish with mythological decorations. Such dishes were previously used in the daily hand-washing ceremony in England, but over time they became purely decorative objects. The dish was cast in 1864 and it is a replica of one of the pewter kept in the Louvre. The central part of the dish depicts Temperanc. She holds a lamp in her right hand and a jug in her left. She is surrounded by other gods and symbols. The reserves around the dish rim show Minerva presiding over the seven liberal arts: astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, music, rhetoric, dialectic and grammar. Wimbledon winners are also presented with a 35-centimetre replica of the trophy with the names of previous champions.

Wimbledon: tournament of legends

Wimbledon is a tournament that always makes the British proud, despite their rare victories. Fred Perry was the last British player to win the men’s Wimbledon championship in 1936. Among women, Virginia Wade became the last British winner in the Ladies’ Singles in 1977.

Actually, the list of Wimbledon champions looks like the roster of world tennis legends. The tournament has always attracted outstanding athletes and witnessed many unforgettable moments. A few names of famous Wimbledon winners can be highlighted in this list:

Roger Federer: This Swiss athlete has won the Wimbledon champion trophy eight times, confirming his status as the best of the best.

Martina Navratilova: She is a Czech-American tennis legend who has been honoured with a record number of Wimbledon titles. She won nine singles titles and 31 overall, including doubles and mixed doubles.

Pete Sampras is an American tennis player who won the Wimbledon title seven times.

Serena Williams is one of the most influential figures in women’s tennis. She won the Wimbledon singles title seven times, displaying impeccable strength and agility on court.

Bjorn Borg is a Swedish tennis sensation of his time who won five consecutive Wimbledon titles in the late 1970s.

These names will remain forever in the Wimbledon history books, symbolising the tournament as one of the most important sporting events in the world.

Interesting facts about the tournament

• At the tournament, women are addressed as “Miss” or “Mrs.” depending on their marital status. However, men have traditionally only been referred to by their last name.
• Eating strawberries and cream during Wimbledon is the traditional way to enjoy the biggest tennis event. All Wimbledon strawberries must be grown in England. One portion of exactly 10 berries invariably costs £2.5.
• Another Wimbledon tradition is serving Pimm’s gin-based liqueur which makes the atmosphere of the tournament even more charming.

These traditions prove that Wimbledon is not only an important sporting event, but also a fundamental part of British culture.