HISTORY OF WIMBLEDON

It is important to read the history of the Wimbledon as it remains one of the few tournaments and the only grand slam event to be played on grass.

It is interesting to note that the club was founded as 'The All England Croquet Club' in 1868.

Tennis was added to the club activities in 1875 and the club changed its name to 'The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club' The code of laws initially drawn by the Marylebone Cricket Club have stood the test of time and today's rules are similar except for details such as the height of the net and posts and the distance of the service line from the net.

The First Men's Champion

In 1877 was the Gentlemen's Singles was won by Spencer Gore, from a field of 22. About 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final.

By 1882 activity at the Club was almost exclusively confined to lawn tennis and that year the word 'croquet' was dropped from the title. However, for sentimental reasons, it was restored in 1899 and the club has been known as 'The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club' ever since.

The First Ladies Champion

In 1884 the Ladies' Singles was inaugurated and, from an entry of 13 players, Maud Watson became the first champion. That same year, the Gentlemen's Doubles was started, with the trophy donated by the Oxford University Lawn Tennis Club after the end of their doubles championship, played from 1879 to 1883.

Sibling Domination - A History

In the mid-1880s crowds the prowess of British twins Ernest and William Renshaw who, separately and as doubles partners, won 13 titles between 1881 and 1889 had drawn the crowds into Wimbledon. The boom in popularity of the game in this period became known as the 'Renshaw Rush'.

And in 1897 the legendary Doherty brothers, Laurie and Reggie, began their ten-year rule of the courts and the popularity of the tournament increased.

International character of Wimbledon and demise of British Tennis

By the turn of the century Wimbledon had assumed an international character and in 1905 May Sutton of the United States became the first Champion from overseas when she won the Ladies' Singles. In 1907, Norman Brookes of Australia became the first Gentlemen's Singles champion from overseas. However, this a also signalled the demise of British tennis. Only two players from Great Britain, Arthur Gore and Fred Perry, have managed to win the Men's Singles while there have been five British Ladies' Champions since Wimbledon moved to Church Road in 1922— Kitty McKane Godfree, Dorothy Round, Angela Mortimer, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade.

Move to Church Road - Changes introduced

Applications for tickets in the first year were issued by a ballot — a system that has been adopted for every Championship since.

The move to Church Road coincided with a break in tradition, whereby the Challenge Round was abolished in favour of the holder playing through each round.

1920's - The four Musketeers

France produced at least one singles champion almost regularly in the 1920's. The famous 'Four Musketeers' — Jean Borota, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste — appeared on the scene and during the next ten years won six Singles titles and five Doubles titles between them.

The 1920's saw the end of Suzanne Lenglen's reign and the beginning of the conquests of Helen Wills of the United States.

Some Consolation for the British

The years from 1934 to 1937 were a golden era for British tennis, when a total of 11 titles were captured, including three singles in succession by Fred Perry and two by Dorothy Round.

Donald Budge won all three events in 1937 and 1938, Helen Wills Moody captured the Ladies' Singles for the eight time and Alice Marble brought a new dimension to ladies' tennis with her serve and volley game.

Earlier in 1930 Wimbledon saw an old hero, Bill Tilden, return to centre stage with his third title at the age of 38.

The Championships were not played during the second world war.

The Post-War Period

Mens

Americans dominated at Wimbledon well into the fifties. Notable champions being Jack Kramer, Ted Schroeder, Tony Trabert,

Then from 1956 until the early 1970s, the men's Singles virtually became the property of Australia as Lew Hoad, Neale Fraser, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and John Newcombe dominated.

Womens

Louise Brough, Maureen Connolly and the late Althea Gibson, the first black winner dominated in the 1950s.The sequence of American wins in the Ladies' Singles was not broken until 1959 when Maria Bueno of Brazil triumphed. In the 1960s, Margaret Smith became the first Australian to win the event, while Angela Mortimer and Ann Jones revived the British interest.

1968 - Professionals allowed

In 1968, Rod Laver and Billie Jean King became the first Wimbledon Open Champions.

Famous Records at Wimbledon

In 1980 Bjorn Borg of Sweden became the first player to win the men's Singles five times in the post-challenge round era; a feat replicated by Roger Federer between 2003 and 2007.

In 1985 Boris Becker, aged 17, became the youngest player, the first unseeded player and the first German to win the men's Singles.

In 1987 Martina Navratilova of the United States became the first player to win the Ladies' Singles six times in succession and in 1990 she attained the all-time record of nine victories in the event.

Pete Sampras of the United States registered his seventh win in 2000 and

In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic became the first wildcard to win the men's Singles.

Anniversary Celebrations and cause for the British to cheer

The Championships celebrated their centenary in 1977. The celebrations were made special for the British as the Ladies' Singles trophy went to Virginia Wade

The 100th Championships celebrations were held in 1986 and 1993 marked the 100th Ladies' Championships