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YOUNGWORLD

THE HINDU

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012

If it's June it has to be Wimbledon. An event that brings with it great excitement and anticipation the world over.

Its a sweetspot

HALLOWED GROUND: The Wimbledon Centre Court. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

he All England Tennis and Croquet Club that hosts the annual tennis championships is a much looked forward to event not only for tennis enthusiasts but for all and sundry. Over the years the event has built around it a glamour and mystery that is worthy of its 126 years.

Heres a brief round-up of the his- nis. They were not too happy about tory of this game and also some it, but things were not looking up for them at that time and they reinteresting snippets. luctantly did as advised. The All England Croquet Club History was in a slump and membership It all began in 1875 when the All was low. Lawn tennis was emergEngland Croquet Club was advised ing as a popular summer sport. The to give up some land for lawn ten- All England Lawn Tennis and Cro-

quet Club came into being. The rst lawn tennis tournament was held in 1877 with 22 players competing. It is interesting to note that at the rst Wimbledon Championships Final there were just 200 spectators! As the years went by it became increasingly popular and of course the number

of spectators increased dramatically. Some of the champs that made history in the early years need to be remembered. William Renshaw, managed to get six singles titles, back-to-back from 1881 to 1886. This record still stands unbroken. Towards the end of the century the Doherty brothers took over. While older brother Reginald won the title four times, his brother Laurence was a ve-time victor. In the early part of the 20th century international travel was still difficult. However, by 1905 players from other countries began to make their appearance. In 1910 the title was snatched by a New Zealander, Anthony Wilding. He won the title with his four consecutive victories. After him came Norman Brookes, of Australia. Until 1884, ladies did not compete in the Wimbledon. The mens doubles was included at the same time as when the ladies singles were introduced 1884. The ladies doubles and the mixed doubles were added only in 1913. During the two World Wars the championships were discontinued. After WWII the face of Wimbledon changed. Earlier players wore long trousers and dresses with stockings, whereas now they wore shorts and short skirts. And in this quintessentially British game their dominance in the sport became a thing of the past. Fred Perrys win in 1936 was the last the island nation came up with. Only three British women have been successful Angela Mortimer in 1961, Ann Haydon-Jones in 1969 and Virginia Wade in 1977.

Trivia
In the rst championship Spencer Gore was the winner out of a pool of 22 participants. When the nal match was played there were 200 spectators who had paid one shilling each. The very rst Wimbledon

Championship was played at the All England Croquet Club, a private club off Worple Road. The event is reserved for two weeks in June. In the entire history of Wimbledon only thrice has the event lasted more than two weeks, and the delay each time was because of rain.

Tennis balls were hand sewn The traditional food at Wimand serves were played underarm. bledon is strawberries and In 1884, the rst Wimbledon cream. Championship for Ladies, there were 13 participants. Maud Watson was the rst champion. In 1887, Lottie Dod made Wimbledon history by winning the Ladies Singles title at the age of 15 years. Wimbledon has been interrupted twice till date, once in 1915-18

The winner with the most titles from the Wimbledon Tennis Championship from the ladies singles is Martina Navratilova with nine titles. Pete Sampras has the most mens singles titles with seven. Wimbledon logo consists of green and purple colour circular symbols, with two racquets crossed over them.

Wimbledon is the only major tennis tournament still played on grass.

The players wore ties and hats and were warned not to wear shoes with heels.

and then in 1940-45, due to World War I and World War II . Ladies Singles Champions win a sterling silver salver known as Rosewater Dish, while the Mens Singles Champion wins a silver gilt cup. In 2007, for the rst time men and women were paid the same amount as prize money. The Centre Court is the most prestigious court among the 19 in Wimbledon and is reserved for the nals.