For most players, the Wimbledon tournament is the most prestigious in the world. Every player dreams of winning on its famous green lawns. A true “Theatre of Dreams”.

The tournament owes this unique reputation to its environment, its history and its traditions. Wimbledon was the first ever tennis tournament. It has survived the centuries intact and with very few wrinkles along the way.  This is the story of a exceptional sporting competition.

Everything begins in the Wimbledon suburb of London (England) in 1875. That year, the All England Croquet Club decided to offer its members the chance to try a new sport: tennis, invented the same year, by Major Wingfield.

The All England Croquet Club was founded in 1869 by two British men: JH Walsh, director of the countries leading leisure publication, The Field, and Henry Jones, his editor. For 120 pounds a year, they rented a meadow in Wimbledon, between Worple Road and a railway. In 1875, the two founders bought Major Wingfield’s new game for 25 pounds.

Members of the All England Croquet Club tested the game of tennis, making several changes along the way. Henry Jones never ceased to improve the rules and the game of tennis. In February 1877, the All England Croquet Club (recently renamed the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club) was experiencing financial problems. This prompted Henry Jones to propose the creation of a Tennis Championship to create the much needed bailout funds for the club.

Thus, in July 1877, the first Wimbledon tournament was held. It was the first major competition in the history of tennis. Note that until 1922 the official name of the tournament will be: Lawn-Tennis Championship.

The first edition was only open to men and lasted just 5 days (9, 10, 11, 12 and 19 July). The All England Club hosted 22 players and about 200 spectators. Henry Jones, the tournament director, had put into play a cup worth 25 guineas.

At the time, tennis was obviously just a hobby and not yet a fully fledged sport. However, the All England Club made a huge effort to ensure that Wimbledon was a real competition.

On 19 July, the first Wimbledon final was between a 27 year old Racquet player, Spencer Gore, and a Real Tennis player, Mr. Marshall. It was the former that came through victorious (6-1, 6-2, 6-4,) surprising all his opponents with this offensive, powerful and varied game, winning with a mixture of points at the net, volleys and powerful hitting.

The eunner-up, Mr Marshall later designed the Club House at the Queen's Tennis Club in London. The grass court venue of the traditional warm up tournament for Wimbledon, held 2 weeks before the actual event

In 1878, participation had increased, with 33 players trying to reach the final, and a chance to face the pervious year’s winner. The Challenge Round System, where the winner automatically qualifies for the final the following year, was in place until 1922.

It was Frank Hadow, on vacation in the area, who succeeded and had the privilege of playing Spencer Gore in the final. This unknown Englishman was the significant underdog against the volleys and powerful hitting of Gore. However, Frank Hadow surprises everyone by winning! (7-5, 6-1, 9-7). During his amazing victory Hadow also invented the lob. After his victory he wondered why nobody had ever thought to lift the ball over the opponent before.

The 1879 final attracted 1000 spectators, and participation had increased to 45. The same year, the Men’s Double’s competition in introduced. The winning team received a trophy offered by the Oxford University Lawn Tennis Club.

It was not until 1884 that we finally see the first women's tournament at Wimbledon. It was two sisters who reached the final, Maud and Lilian Watson, with the former winning the title 6-8, 6-3, 6-3.

The years pass and in parallel with the internationalization of tennis, the fame and prestige of Wimbledon grows. At the end of the 19th century, the tournament is the most important tennis championship in the world, despite the creation of other international competitions such as the U.S. Open Championship and the Clay Tournament in Paris (future Roland Garros).

Court side, the end of the century was marked by the dominance of Renshaw brothers on the lawns of Wimbledon. Ernest and Willie (inventor of smash) between them appeared in 14 singles finals, of which 8 resulted in victory and won 7 Doubles trophies from 1881 and 1890. Willie won Wimbledon 6 times in a row (1881-1886) in singles and well as doubles. This is a record. The Renshaw’s then leave the way for another set of brothers - Reggie and Laurie Doherty, who between them notched up 9 wins from 1898 and 1906.

In the women’s side, Lottie Dod (youngest Wimbledon champion at 15), Charlotte Cooper and Dorothea Douglass are the masters, with 5 wins each between 1887 and 1910.

After an interruption for the First World War, Wimbledon resumed in 1919. In 1922, the tournament moved to Church Road (current location), a larger setting, but still in the Wimbledon suburb of London.

The move coincides with various other changes. The All England Club (which does not move) first decides to finally adopt the name of ‘Wimbledon’, in place of the ‘Lawn Tennis Championships’. Then, the club organizers took the decision to abolish the Challenge Round System. Wimbledon was the only tennis tournament to establish and maintain this system.

Finally, the 26 June 1922 marks the opening of the new Wimbledon stadium. Named ‘Central Court’, it has the distinction of being covered with ivy and of being the smallest stadium of the 4 Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, U.S. Open). Its capacity does not exceed 13 000 seats.

The changes of 1922 did not hinder the development of the tournament. The number of visitors was constantly increasing (200 000 visitors in 1932). Wimbledon in the 1920’s was, like the rest of the world, dominated by French Tennis players. ‘The Musketeers’ (Jean Borotra, Jacques ‘Toto’ Brugnon, Henri Cochet, René Lacoste) and Suzanne Lenglen won 11 singles titles (6 for the 4 Musketeers and 5 for Lenglen).

Their exploits end abruptly in 1931, when the French give way to the Americans. In that year, two American make it to the final, but it will not be played F. Shield was injured the day before). Donald Budge, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills are the new champions of Wimbledon, until the beginning of the Second World War.

October 1940, during World War II a bomb ripped through Centre Court, causing a loss of 1,200 seats, fortunately empty at the time.  Play resumed in 1946, but it was not until 1949 that this damage was fully repaired

Before continuing the history of Wimbledon, we must stop for a moment to answer the following question: why Wimbledon is a unique tournament?

Wimbledon is a very special tournament for several reasons. The first is its age. Established in 1877, it is the oldest tournaments, and therefore, it was also the scene of the first achievements and apprenticeships in the game.

Out of all the Grand Slams, Wimbledon is the only one never to have lost momentum. The number of spectators has never decreased (even during the 1973 players boycott). It must be understood that in England (and elsewhere); Wimbledon is a veritable historical feature. The British and the Royal family love their tournament and would do anything to support it. It is also a meeting point of the important people in the world of tennis. Officials, players, veterans, former champions get together each year in this mythical place.

Another particularity is that Wimbledon has never changed its surface. Its grass surface is a symbol of the tournament and the history of tennis. As grass was the first surface for a tennis court. The grass at Wimbledon is a closely guarded treasure. The Central Court is used only once a year – during the tournament. Wimbledon is also the only professional tournament organized by a club; the others are run by federations.

As for the weather, due to London's own metrological system, rain often disrupts the progress of the tournament. Wimbledon has never really changed; the organizers are still attached to the British traditions. These traditions - often contrary to the rules governing the tennis world, have been more or less accepted, but it is part of the charm of Wimbledon.

Various points on the Wimbledon traditions:

- The players must wear in white
- The seeded players are calculated not from the world rankings but by a Committee of Management and the Referees of the All England Club, according to past results and Wimbledon pedigree. This tradition has often been disputed. The committee may also admit players with an insufficient ranking as a ‘Wild Card’.
- At the awards ceremony it is always the Duke and Duchess of Kent who presents the trophy. The checks are not given in front of the public.
- The reigning champion always opens the tournament on court No. 1 at 14h00.
- There is no advertising around the courts.
- Winners receive a lifetime membership to the All England Club.
- In the final, the players have entitled to a valet to carry their equipment and bags onto the court.
- A tradition among the spectators is the consummation of strawberries and cream and the drinking of Pimms

Now back to the history of Wimbledon. After World War II ended, the tournament resumed in 1946. Until 1967, it was the Americans and Australians who dominated Wimbledon. Initially, the titles are claimed by U.S. (Jack Kramer, Budge Patty, Tony Trabert, Maureen Connolly and Althea Gibson - the first black winner at Wimbledon). But starting from the mid-1950’s, it's the Australians (Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, John Newcombe, Margaret Smith, ...) to start to triumph.

In 1968, the tennis world is revolutionised. It is now required that the tournaments are open to amateurs and professionals alike. In 1967, Wimbledon declares that the tournament will be open to everyone. In 1968, it was the first tournament to welcome professional players, despite the threats of the International Tennis Federation. The other tournaments follow suit, and the Open Era is born.

It is in 1973 that Wimbledon encounters its first great difficulty. This is a year of controversy in the tennis world. After refusing to play in a Davis Cup encounter (a claim denied by the player), Yugoslav Nikki Pilic was suspended by his Federation, meaning that he would not be able to play at Wimbledon.

The ATP (Tennis Players Association) decided to protest by boycotting the next competition of the season: Wimbledon. Consequently, 79 players, including 13 of the original 16 seeds, did not participate in the 1973 edition. This caused panic as the Wimbledon organisers feared that the public would follow suit. Instead, the spectators flocked in. It also saw the arrival of a new star - Bjorn Borg

The 1970’s and 1980’s are synonymous with major renovation work. For the occasion of the tournaments centenary, in 1977, and to accommodate the 300 000 + annual spectators, the Wimbledon organizers decide, initially, to build the first international museum dedicated to the history of tennis. Secondly, in 1979, the buildings surrounding the Central Court are rebuilt and the roof of the stadium is improved to create additional seating. Finally, in 1981, Wimbledon bought the neighbouring land to build 4 new courts and a commercial village. Wimbledon now covers just over 42 acres, the largest of the Grand Slam tournaments. Work is finally completed in 1985 with the expansion of the media centre. Fourteen years later a roof is added to the Centre Court, it will be used for the first time during the 2009 tournament

On the Court, in the 1970’s and 80’s, the Swedish and American men dominate the table. The Swede Bjorn Borg had 5 consecutive triumphs from 1976 to 1980 (with the 1980 final against John McEnroe going down in history as one of the best, with a 34 point tie-break, the 5 set match lasted 3 hours and 53 minutes) before he gave way to another Swede, Stefan Edberg (1988, 1990) and for the Americans John McEnroe (1981, 1983, 1984) and Jimmy Connors (1974, 1982) were the big winners. But Wimbledon also saw the victory of a young German, Boris Becker, the youngest male champion in 1985, aged just 17.

As for the women’s side, it is dominated by one player. Martina Navratilova became the most titled Wimbledon player in history, winning 9 times between 1978 and 1990, and being present in every final from 1982 and 1990. Navratilova won a total on 20 Wimbledon trophies during her career – 9 singles, 7 Ladies doubles and 4 mixed doubles). Her total domination was only stopped by three players: Evonne Goolagong in 1980, Chris Evert in 1981, and Steffi Graf in 1988 and 1989. This young German player would go on to be the Queen of Wimbledon during the 1990’s, winning 7.

Before 2000, the American Pete Sampras made Wimbledon his private garden. With a record 7 triumphs (1993-95, 1997-2000) - Sampras was undefeated at Wimbledon. The only player to beat him at Wimbledon during this period was the 1996 winner, Richard Krajiceck, who knocked him out in the Quarter Finals.

In 2001, the Croatian Wild Card Goran Ivanisevic won the final. Breaking his unlucky jinx after three final failures (in 1992, 94 and 98) and becoming the lowest ranked player (125^th) and only Wild Card ever to win the tournament. Since then the tournament has been dominated by Roger Federer. The Swiss player won 5 consecutive times from 2003-5, eventually losing his crown in an epic final in 2008 against his biggest rival, Rafeal Nadal. The 5 set final was twice interrupted by rain and at 4 hours 48 minutes in the longest ever final.

For the women, Swiss Martina Hingis won Wimbledon at age 15 in 1997, and since 2000, the American Williams sisters – Venus and Serena – have dominated (5 and 3 wins respectively, with 3 doubles wins) this prestigious tournament.

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