Cover May Sutton at Wimbledon in the 1900s (Photo: Wimbledon)
May Sutton at Wimbledon in the 1900s (Photo: Wimbledon)
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Despite its love for tradition, Wimbledon innovates to bring world-class tennis competitions to the world
The Grand Slam tournaments—also called Majors—are the world’s four most important annual professional tennis tournaments. Throughout the year, these two-week events gather the biggest names in the sport for a shot at glory. In January, the Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park, followed by the French Open from late May to early June at the Stade Roland Garros. Wimbledon takes place from late June to early July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and the tournaments wrap up with the US Open in late August to early September in Queens, New York.
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Above Wimbledon Championship 1877 Photo H.W.P. - Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Wimbledon Championship 1877 Photo H.W.P. - Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
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Among the four, Wimbledon is the oldest, founded in 1877, and is regarded as the most prestigious. With unique customs and traditions, such as a strict all-white dress code and a signature dish of strawberries and cream, the tournament brings together thousands of spectators worldwide. In this article, we break down Wimbledon’s history.
The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club didn’t offer lawn tennis to its members until 1875—when people started to lose interest in croquet. The world’s first official lawn tennis tournament was held in 1877 at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, to raise funds to repair the club’s pony roller. The only event was The Gentlemen’s Singles, which was won by Spencer Gore, a 27-year-old from Wandsworth—becoming the first Wimbledon champion with scores of 6-1, 6-2, and 6-4 in 48 minutes.
Above Wimbledon First Ladies Singles 1884 (Photo: Wimbledon)
Wimbledon First Ladies Singles 1884 (Photo: Wimbledon)
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In 1884, the club added the Ladies’ Singles event and the Gentlemen’s Doubles was transferred from the Oxford University Lawn Tennis Club. The Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles events wouldn’t be introduced until 1913, expanding the competition. The Championships stopped for four years when the First World War broke out.
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Above Wimbledon 1922 at the Church Road Grounds (Photo: Wimbledon)
Wimbledon 1922 at the Church Road Grounds (Photo: Wimbledon)
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In 1922, the championship was moved from Worple Road to Church Road, and the Challenge Round was abolished. The following years introduced the world to tennis icons such as Suzanne Lenglen of France, Bill Tilden of the United States and Fred Perry of the United Kingdom.
The tournament was once again stopped because of the Second World War. No game was held from 1940 to 1945, and when they resumed in 1946, there were strict crowd restrictions due to damage caused by a bomb.
Above Maureen Connolly at Wimbledon 1954 (Photo: Wimbledon)
Maureen Connolly at Wimbledon 1954 (Photo: Wimbledon)
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The Fifties brought in a new generation of tennis legends, such as Maureen Connolly from the United States, who became the first woman to win a ‘Grand Slam’—all four major titles in a year.
Historically, professional tennis players were prohibited from attending Wimbledon, but this changed when the Open Era was introduced in 1968. Rod Laver from Australia and Billie Jean King from the United States quickly became known by the community as the period’s fiercest players.
Above Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during the quarter final Men's Single round against Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain at The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club at Wimbledon (Photo: Simon M Bruty/GettyImages)
Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during the quarter final Men's Single round against Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain at The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club at Wimbledon (Photo: Simon M Bruty/GettyImages)
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When the early 2000s arrived, we saw the rise of modern legends such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams, among others. Fans enjoyed and cheered as they witnessed intense rivalries between Federer and Nadal.
Today, Wimbledon continues to be celebrated with new generations of players emerging each season.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
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