During two frequently rain soaked weeks, tennis players from around the world descend on Wimbledon, a quiet South London town, and battle it out for their chance of winning the coveted title of Wimbledon Champion.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament dates back to 1868, making it the oldest tennis tournament in history. And while the early years of Wimbledon were very different to the tournament we see today, there are still some traditions as much in evidence now as they were all those years ago.



Back then it was operating as a private croquet club situated off Worple Road, Wimbledon, and it wasn't until 1875 that the game of tennis (originally called Sphairistike) was introduced as a new activity for the club. Its name was changed from 'The All England Croquet Club' to 'The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club' in 1877 whereby it held the first ever Lawn Tennis Championships.

The Gentlemen’s Singles was the first event with twenty two competing players. A chap named Spencer Gore took the title. However, the vagaries of the British weather meant that the final was subject to a rain delay, something which would become an all too familiar scenario over the ensuing years. The two hundred or so spectators were asked to pay one shilling each as a contribution towards funding for a much needed pony-drawn roller to keep the club's croquet lawns in perfect condition.

Seven years later, 1884 saw the introduction of the Ladies’ Singles tournament as well as the Gentlemen’s Doubles. With just thirteen payers, a lady named Maud Watson was the first women’s singles winner, a feat she was to repeat the following year. However, until 1922, the current title holder was catapulted straight into the final where they'd play against whoever had won through the earlier rounds.

Tennis fashion was of the Victorian age, where for women, long skirts, bustles, hats and gloves were the mode of the day. Tennis was considered a ‘proper’ pastime for ladies and when they heard the call ‘anyone for tennis’ they could play dressed just as they were. Maud Watson caused a great deal of gossip by running around the court wearing ankle length white dresses during her Wimbledon matches. Men's attire was equally oppressive with cardigans, shirts, sweater vests and long flannel pants being worn. White clothing was preferred for all players since it helped mask perspiration.

The club colors of dark green and purple were adopted in 1909 and they remain the same to this day. The original colors were blue, yellow, red and green but they were almost identical to those of the Royal Marines, so they were changed. Unfortunately there is no record why the current colors were chosen.
The rules made back then are remarkably similar to those currently in use. The only difference being the net height, posts and distance from the service line to the net. And the title ‘Centre Court’ originated due to its position situated in the middle of the rest of the Ground lawns.

Due to the increasing popularity of the Championships, it soon became apparent that new grounds were needed when between 1913-1921 an estimated 7,500 spectators visited the grounds causing intense congestion.

In 1922 King George V. opened the new Wimbledon tennis grounds at their spacious new site in Church Road with an initial capacity for 14,000 people. And in 1937 Wimbledon made its debut to the telvision screen. However it could only be viewed by the fortunate few who were lucky enough to own a television set.

By the 1950s, tennis was no longer exclusively for amateur players and in 1969 Wimbledon was held as an open tennis championship. Rod Laver and Billy Jean King were the first Wimbledon Championship winners to receive prize money, paving the way for tennis tournaments as we know them today.

Though more than a century has passed since the first Championships were held, many of Wimbledon's early traditions are still very much in evidence. From rain soaked spectators and immaculately rolled grass courts to the predominantly white tennis outfits worn by the players, Wimbledon's early years lay the foundations for making this historical tournament the most prestigious tennis tournament of all.##