From Garden Party to Grand Slam: The History of Wimbledon

As the manicured lawns of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club await the arrival of this year’s Wimbledon competitors, the world’s oldest international tennis event prepares to celebrate her remarkable 133-year journey.

In 1875, a new outdoor game known as lawn tennis was introduced to the members of “The All England Croquet Club” in Wimbledon.   Originally developed by Major Walter Wingfield (for the entertainment of guests at his estate garden parties in Wales), the novel sport met with a popular reception and soon overshadowed the club’s original pastime.

So enamored were the club members with this new sport that, in 1877, they voted to rename their facility, “The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club”.  (Five years later, there was a subtle switch in the order of that title, giving a respectful nod to the more popular of the two sports played at the club.) The Wimbledon club commemorated the name change by hosting the very first Lawn Tennis Championship in the spring of 1877.  Perhaps due to the meager field of 22 competitors (all male) and 200 spectators attracted to this first tournament, champion Spencer Gore predicted that “Lawn tennis will never rank among our great games.”  Little did he know that this inaugural event would forever stand as the granddaddy of today’s Wimbledon Championship tournament.

Seven years after its inception, the tournament opened its’ courts to woman, crowning 19-year old Londoner, Maud Watson, as their first Ladies’ Singles champion.  The popularity of Wimbledon continued to intensify throughout the 1880’s and 1890’s as British brother Ernest and William Renshaw, and Laurie and Reggie Doherty, dominated the grass courts.

By the turn of the century the tournament began to attract international attention.  In 1905, American May Sutton became the first woman from overseas to capture the Ladies’ Singles Championship, and in 1907, Australian Norman Brookes achieved the same notoriety when he won the Men’s Singles title.  This rise in international exposure proved to be the key factor in the club’s decision to move the tournament to a larger location.  King George V stepped in to assist, opening a large parcel of land along Church Street.  Residual club funds, along with the issuance of debentures (bonds) provided the funding necessary for construction, and by 1922, Wimbledon proudly unveiled her new 14,000-seat stadium.

In her many years, Wimbledon has witnessed a rollercoaster of national dominance, including France’s stronghold in the twenties, Britain’s own dominance throughout the 1930’s, the American’s reign in the fifties and the rule of the Australians during the 60’s and 70’s.  She has also experienced the ravages of war.  As with many facilities during World War II, the Wimbledon grounds did double duty as a military base and, though the club remained open, the tournament was put on hold from 1940-1945.

Post-war revitalization efforts, the expansion of air travel, and the dawning of the Open Era in 1967 (allowing professionals to join the once amateurs-only event), brought a resurgence to Wimbledon glory that continues today.

Wimbledon has played hostess to some of the most memorable fans (Queen Elizabeth II among them) and some of the most unforgettable matches in tennis history, including the 112-game, 5-hour match between Pancho Gonzalez and Charles Pasarell in 1969.  She has witnessed some of the most unlikely and beloved champions, including 1985’s 17-year old unseeded champion Boris Becker.  She has tolerated some of the sport’s most legendary outbursts, most notably McEnroe’s labeling of a line judge as “the pits of the world.”  She has also been eyewitness to some outlandish sartorial displays, including Gussie Moran’s scandalous lace panties and Anne White’s skin-tight lycra body suit in 1985.

Indeed, Wimbledon has seen it all- allowing television to enter her domain in 1937, yellow tennis balls to replace white in 1966, and a retractable roof to cover her Centre Court lawns in 2009- and yet stands steadfastly as the sole Grand Slam event still played on a natural surface, clings tenaciously to her all-white uniform restriction, and continues to indulge her fans with strawberries-and-cream.  In essence, Wimbledon remains the quintessential ambassador of tennis- elegant and timeless.

- Alyce Vilines, GEM Tennis