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Historical archive. Facts and results reflect the period recorded.
The world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, played on the time-honoured grass of Wimbledon, continues to thrill the elite of the world’s best tennis players and spectators on site and at television screens around the world in equal measure. But what exactly makes this one of the four major Grand Slam tournaments such a distinctive occasion in the tennis circus?
The beginning of a phenomenon
With the idea of putting a few British pounds into the club coffers, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club held the first Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon in 1877, at that time open exclusively to male players. The spectators’ keen interest prompted the organizers to expand the tournament between 1884 and 1913 to include women’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. This ultimately led to the construction of a large tennis complex for 14000 tennis enthusiasts and the first television broadcast in 1937. Since then, the world has shared in legendary and unforgettable tennis matches around Center Court No. 1 and Center Court No. 2.
For after or between the matches there is time for eurogrand bonus code.
Kein Rasen ist wie dieser
The most striking feature of Wimbledon is that, as the only Grand Slam venue, it is played on grass. Because the English have long been known for meticulous lawn care, Wimbledon’s grass is tended with particular care and cut precisely to 4.76 millimetres. London weather often made it necessary to interrupt matches briefly and cover the grass against rain and damage. These rain breaks were part of Wimbledon’s familiar image for many years, until a retractable roof ended the tradition in 2003 at the insistence of the television broadcasters.
Another feature probably unique to Wimbledon: tournament visitors can buy seeds for the original Wimbledon grass and take them home as an unusual souvenir.
Königliche Etikette
Wimbledon matches have a special atmosphere because the royal family and an equally elite group of politicians and celebrities occasionally attend. The Royal Box, a royal enclosure established by George V at Centre Court, has 74 seats for perfect people-watching. The curtsy or bow players traditionally made before the Royal Box was abolished years ago.
Dresscode Weiß
Wimbledon still requires at least 90% of players’ tennis clothing to be white, in keeping with tradition. The rule even requires sportswear suppliers to have the planned outfits officially approved three months before the tournament. Repeated violations of this strict rule can lead to exclusion from the tournament.
Erdbeeren in aller Munde
Hardly any visitor or player at Wimbledon misses at least one serving of the treat: strawberries and cream. This culinary tradition has been part of Wimbledon since 1893, and during the two tournament weeks an average of 28 tonnes of strawberries reach hungry visitors’ stomachs. Even here there are strict rules: only perfect berries of the specified size and weight become coveted Wimbledon strawberries.
Many of these traditions may seem quirky and old-fashioned at first glance. In today’s fast-moving world, however, these charming details are precisely what make this famous tournament the “Wimbledon myth”.