Wimbledon, for many, is synonymous with the sport of tennis. The legendary tournament, which is actually called the Wimbledon Championships, has become a kind of be-all-end-all when it comes to showcasing the legacy and history of the sport.
It is, by far, the most prestigious tournament in tennis and one in which players are willing to give anything to participate. It is, therefore, no coincidence that the players who win Wimbledon are respected the most among their peers and in the tennis fraternity in general.
In this piece, we will take a look at what makes Wimbledon so special.
The History of Wimbledon
Tennis was traditionally played only on grass, but unfortunately, Wimbledon is the only major tournament remaining that is still played on that surface. It has been organised by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 1877.
It is, in chronological order, the third Grand Slam of the year, after the Australian and French Opens. It is usually held in the English summer — in June and July — with the final major tournament of the year, the US Open, being played in August-September.
Although it was originally played outdoors without a retractable roof, one has been in place since 2019 to ensure that less time is lost due to rain delays. The gentlemen’s finals are held on the Sunday of the second week, while the ladies’ finals are held on the preceding Saturday.
The Distinct Etiquette of Wimbledon
Players are asked to dress in white while playing in Wimbledon, and quite distinctly from other majors, advertising and marketing are minimal in the tournament. Readers will find it interesting to note that Rolex and Slazenger are the oldest sponsors of the tournament, with the latter providing balls for it since 1902.
The royal family of England is the official patron of this tournament, and spectators are asked to dress conservatively as they would for a solemn occasion. Strawberries and cream are consumed widely by spectators in the tournament, as they are in full flush during the English summer.
There is also a ball that takes place on Sunday night after the winners of both categories have been ascertained. This is where the winner of the gentlemen’s category asks the winner of the ladies’ category for a dance in what is called the Champions’ ball.
The Most Successful Winners
While the winner of the first-ever Wimbledon in 1877 was Spencer Gore (when only the gentlemen’s tournament was held), Roger Federer holds the most number of titles among men — eight.
In the women’s category, Martina Navratilova — a legend of the sport — has nine titles to emerge on top of the list. Todd Woodbridge and Elizabeth Ryan have the most number of doubles titles in the gentlemen’s and ladies’ categories, with eight and 12, respectively.
In the mixed doubles category, it is interesting to note that our very own Leander Paes is at the top of the men’s list with four titles, while Ryan continues to be on the top of the women’s list with seven titles to her name.
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