Wimbledon Facts

The Most Exciting Event in Tennis

Wimbledon is the most exciting event in the tennis lover’s calendar. As it is just around the corner, we thought it would be worth having a look at why it is so special and share some quirky facts.

What Makes Wimbledon So Special?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, dating back to its first event in 1877. It is also the only Grand Slam to be played on grass. The meticulously maintained and pristine grass courts offer a truly unique playing surface and demand a different set of skills from players compared to other tournaments around the world.

Where Is It Played?

As the name suggests, Wimbledon is played in the lovely, leafy, southwest London suburb of Wimbledon.

Why Is Centre Court Called SW19?

SW19 refers to the Wimbledon tennis location itself and is the first half of the postal code for the area.

How to Participate?

The top 104 ranked players in the world are invited to play at The Wimbledon Championship, as well as 8 wild cards (more on that later!). These 104 players have been chosen based on their rankings from other international tournaments. If players choose not to participate, the next lowest-ranked players make it onto the list.

What Is a Wimbledon Wild Card Entry and How Does It Work?

Wild cards are players whose ranking is not high enough to qualify automatically for The Championships but who are accepted into the main draw at the discretion of the Committee. Wild cards are usually offered based on past performance at Wimbledon or to increase British interest. Wild cards have been allocated since 1977, and from 2003, some singles wild cards have been determined by competition. In 2001 Goran Ivanišević won Wimbledon on a wildcard.

How Much Do Wimbledon Players Make?

In 2023, the men’s and women’s singles winners each received £2.3m for becoming champions. Runners-up received £1.1m, and semi-finalists took home £600,000 each.

Do Junior Wimbledon Players Win Prize Money?

Junior boys and girls aged between 14 and 18 from around the world come to compete at The Wimbledon Championship. Despite not having any prize money at stake, they receive ranking points that contribute to their international junior ranking.

How Many Sets Are Played at Wimbledon?

Men’s matches are played best of 5 sets, and women’s matches are played best of 3.

Why Don’t They Let Women Play Five Sets?

Women play best of 3 sets as opposed to men’s best of 5 due to tradition and the belief that women cannot handle the physical demands of playing 5 sets. Female tennis stars continue to fight for 5 sets; however, tournament organizers remain against the idea.

Why Don’t They Play Night Matches?

As Wimbledon is nestled in the heart of a busy and populated area of London, there is a curfew of 11 pm. This is to ensure that noise and disruption to residents are kept to a minimum.

Are Tennis Players Allowed Tattoos?

There are no specific rules regarding tattoos at Wimbledon, as long as players adhere to the strict dress regulations.

Where Do the Players Stay?

The standard accommodation for players competing at the Championships Wimbledon is usually a house or apartment in southwest London, which is rented by the player and their team for the duration of the tournament.

What Are Some of the Lesser-Known Facts About Wimbledon?

• The grass for the Championships must have a playing height of 8mm. Court grass is composed of 100% ryegrass.
• The longest set at Wimbledon was the final set between Isner & Mahut in 2010, which lasted 491 minutes (8 hrs 11 mins), 1 hr 38 mins longer than the previous longest match in tennis history. The whole match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes!
• Wimbledon started back in 1877! However, only men’s singles were played until 1884
• The first women to win was Maud Watson, player against her sister Lilian
• 54,250 balls are used over the tournament.
• A hawk called Rufus keeps pigeons away from the courts.
• Strawberries & Cream are a vital part of Wimbledon. Over the tournament, they get through 23 tonnes of strawberries and 7,000 litres of fresh cream!
• The tennis balls weren’t always yellow. In 1986, they changed from white to yellow so that they could be seen more easily.
• Wimbledon players must adhere to a strict all-white dress code for their tennis wear; however, in 2023, women were, for the first time ever, allowed to wear darker-coloured shorts underneath their skirts and dresses.
• Wimbledon has a tradition of bowing or curtsying to the Royal Box. Up until 2003, players were expected to bow or curtsy if any member of the Royal Family was present in the Royal Box. This tradition was discontinued by the All-England Club except for the Queen or the Prince of Wales.

We hope that you have enjoyed our look at Wimbledon, let us know if you have any interesting facts that should be included.