The First Wimbledon
Next: July 9, 2027
Grass, rackets and a little rain.
The story
Where it comes from
This Story marks the anniversary of the first Wimbledon Championships, which began on 9 July 1877. The All England Club in Wimbledon, then a village outside London, had been founded for croquet and took up the new game of lawn tennis in 1875. In 1877 it renamed itself the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club and held its first lawn tennis championship. There was only one event, the Gentlemen's Singles, with 22 players, and Spencer Gore became the first champion.
How it's celebrated
There is no organised observance, but the Championships are still played on grass every summer and the date often falls during the tournament. Mark it by picking up a racket at the local courts, watching a classic final, or inviting friends over to watch a match together.
Did you know
- About 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the first final.
- Rain delayed that first final by several days, and play had already paused so as not to clash with the Eton v Harrow cricket match.
- Women did not compete at Wimbledon until seven years later, in 1884.
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