Wimbledon- A History Lesson
There’s a reason why The Championships, Wimbledon, now days more commonly just called Wimbledon, is probably the most prestigious tennis tournaments there is. It is not just because it is the oldest, but also because the beginnings of tennis as a sport itself were here, and because of the strong ties that Wimbledon retains with tradition.
It all began on the of 23rd July, 1868, when the All England Croquet Club was founded. This club was originally located at Worple Road, while its current location is at Church Road. In 1876 Major Walter Clopton Wingfield essentially devised the game that would go on to be called tennis, and in 1877 the club was renamed The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. Many rules that are still in place were devised, except for some measurements like the height of the net and the distance of the service line from the baseline.
In 1877, the first Wimbledon tournament was played, and was nothing like the extravaganza that we see today. Instead, there was only a single event, men’s singles, which was played by a group of 22 men. The first Wimbledon champion was Spencer William Gore, who played in front of a crowd of 200 people. In 1884, the women’s event was finally introduced, and in 1967 it would be the first event to ever be televised in color, once again proving that history is made at Wimbledon
Just like most other tennis tournaments and international sports, the tournament was halted due to World War 1 and World War 2, from 1915-1918 and 1940-1945. Tennis however, would continue to gain popularity around the world.
Originally, the names of the men’s singles winners were engraved on the silver gilt cup trophy. This tradition continued from 1887 till 2009, until there was no more space on the trophy to engrave. Therefore, a black plinth with a silver band was added so that the names of future champions could be added. The ladies’ singles winner trophy is known as the “Rosewater Dish”, introduced in 1886, and is sterling silver. Prize money was added to the tournament in 1968, and it was in that year that the tournament became professional, allowing professional athletes to compete.
One of the most distinct odes to Wimbledon’s strong roots and traditions is the fashion. The accepted garments in the nineteenth century were plain white long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and women had to play in long skirts and corsets. These uniforms would of course make it quite hard for players to have full mobility. As the sport became more competitive and the stakes rose, players began to experiment with their clothes, shortening skirts and shorts, as well as opting for shorter sleeves. Some things remain the same, like the mostly white dress code.
Another Wimbledon tradition is the massive amount of strawberries and cream that the tournament orders, and the spectators and players consume. It is estimated that about 28,000 kilos of strawberries and 7000 liters of cream are consumed every year. As Sir Andy Murray has said, “the only way to eat strawberries is with cream.”
Although Wimbledon has changed a lot since it was founded, there are many things that remain the same, and are a reminder of what is and was arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament there is.