Wimbledon - Background & History

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club founded in 1868. Its first ground was at off Worple Road, Wimbledon. In 1876, lawn tennis, a game arranged by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield a year or so earlier and originally called 'Sphairistike', was added to the activities of the club. The club was re-named 'The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club' and signaled its change of name by instituting the first Lawn Tennis Championship in the spring of 1877. A new code of laws (replacing the code until then administered by the Marylebone Cricket Club) was drawn up for the event. Now a days, rules are similar except for details such as the height of the net and posts and the distance of the service line from the net. The only event held in 1877 was the Gentlemen's Singles, which was won by Spencer Gore, an old Harrovian rackets player, from a field of 22. About 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final.

The grounds were ordered in such a way that the principal court was situated in the middle with the others arranged around it; hence the title 'Centre Court', which was retained when the Club moved in 1922 to the present site in Church Road, although not a true description of its location. However, in 1980 four new courts were brought into commission on the north side of the ground, which meant the Centre Court was once more correctly defined. The opening of the new No. 1 Court in 1997 emphasised the description.

The word 'croquet' was dropped from the title by 1882. However, for sentimental reasons, it was restored in 1899 and since then the title has remained The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. In 1884, the All England Club added Ladies' Singles and Gentlemen's Doubles. Ladies' Doubles and Mixed Doubles were added in 1913. Until 1922, the reigning champion had to play only in the final, against whoever had won through to challenge him/her. As with the other three Grand Slam events, Wimbledon was contested by top-ranked amateur players until the advent of the open era in tennis in 1968. No British man has won the singles event at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936 and no British woman has won the Ladies Singles since Virginia Wade in 1977, although Annabel Croft and Laura Robson won the Girls' Championship in 1984 and 2008, respectively. The Championship was first televised in 1937.

Wimbledon will return for 2012 and will be held on 25 June - 8 July 2012. Tennis fans get ready for this marvelous sporting event and purchase Wimbledon Tickets especially for debenture seating from Gigsport.

Wimbledon Tickets

Tel: +44 (0) 203 589 2000
sales@tickets2allevents.com
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Wimbledon Tennis - Overview

Wimbledon, or The Championships, is the oldest and prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon has been organised at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. Wimbledon is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments; the other three being the Australian Open, French Open and US Open. Wimbledon is the only major played on grass till now. Wimbledon is played over two weeks in late June and early July, ending with the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Singles Final, scheduled respectively for the second Saturday and Sunday. Each year, five major events are played, as well as four junior events and three invitational events.

The hard court (Plexicushion) Australian Open and clay court French Open precede Wimbledon in the calendar year. The hard court (DecoTurf) US Open follows. For men, the grass court Queen's Club Championships, also in London, as well as the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, serve as warm-up events. For women, the AEGON Classic in Birmingham and 2 joint events, the UNICEF Open in s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands and the Eastbourne International serve as warm-up events to Wimbledon. Wimbledon traditions include a strict dress code for competitors, the eating of strawberries and cream by the spectators, and Royal patronage. The tournament is also notable for the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts. In 2009, Wimbledon's Centre Court was fitted with a retractable roof to prevent rain delaying and interrupting Centre Court matches during the tournament.

Wimbledon will return for 2012 and will be held on 25 June - 8 July 2012. Tennis fans get ready for this marvelous sporting event and purchase Wimbledon Tickets especially for debenture seating from Gigsport.

Wimbledon Tennis - £295

Tel: +44 (0) 203 589 2000
sales@tickets2allevents.com
Gigsport