Wimbledon always keeps tennis fans at the edge of their seats and the 2024 tournament is no exception, with the most five-set matches of any Grand Slam tournament ever. Here are 10 historical facts about Wimbledon you may not know to enhance your watching experience.
1. Wimbledon Is the Oldest Tennis Championship in the World
Maybe one of the most important historical facts about Wimbledon to know is that Wimbledon is widely known as the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, as it is also the oldest. The Wimbledon championships have taken place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club since 1877 and have been at the current grounds since 1922.
Since then, the site has been developed with new courts being built and more seating being added, including the 11,500-seat Number One court.
2. Wimbledon Has the Most Aces of All Time
As the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon sees the best of the world’s tennis players and has seen the most aces hit in any tennis tournament.
This, of the many fun historical facts about Wimbledon, accounts for some of the greatest players such as Serena Williams, the winner of the most grand slam tournaments of all time. At Wimbledon in 2015, Williams served a total of 80 aces across the tournament with an average serving speed of 125 miles per hour.
3. 28,000 kg of Strawberries and 10,000 Liters of Cream Are Consumed During Wimbledon
Wimbledon is known for serving the iconic strawberries and cream as a snack during the tournament.
That is why, every year during the tournament, over 140,000 bowls of strawberries and cream are distributed to the spectators and players; to gain the full Wimbledon experience.
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4. Wimbledon is the Only Grand Slam Event Played on Grass Courts
Another one of the fun historical facts about Wimbledon is that it is the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass courts.
The Paris Open is played on red clay, and both the Australian and US Open are played on a surface called decoturf, making Wimbledon the only grass Grand Slam courts.
5. Wimbledon Has Been on TV For Almost 90 Years
Wimbledon was first televised on June 21st, 1937, when the tournament was aired by BBC.
Tennis fans across the world have enjoyed the tournament on the screen for the past 87 years.
6. Wimbledon Matches Can Last Forever
Another one of the shocking historical facts about Wimbledon is that there is no limit to how long a match can last, meaning that it could go forever, in theory.
The longest match to take place at Wimbledon lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes in 2010 when United States player John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut from France. The match was played over the course of three days.
7. The Winners of Wimbledon Do Not Get to Keep the Trophy
After winning the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon winners do not get to keep the trophy. They all remain on display at the All England Club’s museum and the winners get to go home with a small replica of the trophy.
8. Wimbledon Rules State that All Players Wear White
Though there has been some push back on this rule, especially women, Wimbledon requires all players to wear all white.
Umpires can ask players to change their clothes if they do not match the dress code. For example, in 2013, Roger Federer was asked to change his shoes for his next match as they had orange soles. Suffice to say, the dress code is taken very seriously at Wimbledon.
9. 54,250 tennis balls are used during the tournament
One of the fascinating historical facts about Wimbledon is that 54,250 balls are used during the tournament. The balls are replaced after every seven to nine games to ensure they are in perfect condition throughout the match.
The balls that are not in use are stored in a refrigerated container to keep them in peak condition for match-play.
10. A Hawk Named Rufus Keeps the Pigeons Away from Wimbledon
The last of the fun historical facts about Wimbledon is about a hawk named Rufus. There are a lot of pigeons around London that could interfere with match-play.
So, to ensure they do not bother the players during the tournament, Wimbledon has employed a hawk named Rufus to circle the sky above Wimbledon and keep the pigeons away from play.
