9 Interesting Facts About the Championships, Wimbledon
Oldest tennis tournament in the world
The Championships, Wimbledon was first held 125 years ago in 1877, Wimbledon, London. The first champion, Spencer William Gore was chosen from a group of twenty-two male competitors. The All England Lawn Tennis club and Croquet Club is the place the tournament take place.
Lawn Tennis
Wimbledon is the only tennis tournament from the four major annual tennis tournaments known as the ‘Grand Slams’, to be played on grass. Grass surfaces are the best for faster games of tennis. The Lawn Tennis name was originated at this very same place.
Wimbledon Player Outfits
The players should wear plain white, nor other color. In the nineteenth century players wore plain white long-sleeved shirts
and trousers. Women players wore full-length corseted white dresses and hats. Around in 1930s female players started wearing Shorter skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops which were much easy and comfortable. Today, the players get a lot worthy(millions) sponsorship deals with sportswear giants. Traditional colors for the ball girls and boys were Green and purple but it has changed over time.
Who has won Wimbledon the most times?
On mens tournaments Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and William Renshaw are tied with 7 Wimbledon titles. Martina Navratilova, retired with 9 Wimbledon titles, the highest among women.
No tennis Sunday
Wimbledon’s first Sunday is usually an off day. This is another unique factor of the tournament. None of the other major tennis tournaments have an off day. But they broke the tradition in 1991, 1997 and 2004 due to the rainy weather.
Broadcast rights in Wimbledon
BBC is the host broadcaster to the tournament while they hold an agreement extended in 2016 to 2024. They have broadcasted the Wimbledon tournament in television for 80 years while in radio broadcasting it counts up to 90 years. In addition BBC first broadcasted the event on June 1937 as a radio broadcasting. See the TV coverage and schedules for 2017 tournament.
World wars were not good for tennis
World War I(1915-1918) and World War II (1940-1945) were harsh times for England. Therefore the All England tennis club cancelled the tournament during those years. Actually Nazis attacked the Centre court in October 1940 and it is said that at least 16 bombs hit the area .
RUFUS, the Hawk
London and Wimbledon are famous for pigeons and it’s the same with the tennis court also. Harris hawk named Rufus is employed to prevent interference from pigeons.While pigeons are food for Rufus’s kind, his handlers train Rufus to scare them away rather than eating them. Rufus loves his job and if you visit the court you might even see him patrolling over the grounds magnificently. All who love tennis loves Rufus and as a result he has lots of fans all around the world. Check the Twitter of Rufus here.
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