THE only tennis major played on grass courts is back in action this year after the coronavirus forced the cancellation of the annual event last year – the second time the tournament has been cancelled in its 144-year history apart from during WWII.
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With the announcement of lockdown Level 4 regulations, many of us will now be restricted to the home, and a tournament such as Wimbledon will bring some welcome distraction. To get you revved up for this English contest, which is running unto Sunday, 11 July, here are some interesting facts about the event.
How many courts are at Wimbledon?
There’s certainly no shortage of courts at this London venue, with 18 championship courts as well as 20 practice courts available – 38 in total (for those with limited maths skills!).
What was the longest match played?
In 2010, when American tennis star John Isner took on France’s Nicolas Mahut on Court 18, the pair were quite obviously very evenly matched. After three days and a total playing time of 11 hours and 5 minutes, Isner eventually secured his victory.
Strawberries and cream anyone?
One of the many great traditions of Wimbledon is the delectable strawberries and cream that are enjoyed courtside. The cost of a portion of 10 quality strawberries and cream has remained steady at £2.50 per serving since 2010, with some 191 930 portions consumed at the last Wimbledon championships in 2019.
What about some other eats?
If strawberries and cream aren’t your cup of English tea, then there’s also the famous fish and chip options. In 2019, around 18 061 serving of this traditional English meal were sold, as well as 64 703 ice creams and 276 291 glasses of deliciously refreshing Pimm’s.
How did it all begin?
The first lawn tennis tournament at Wimbledon began way back in July 1877, organised by the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. The first tournament welcomed 21 amateur tennis players who competed in the gentlemen’s singles tournament, with the winner taking home a 25-guinea trophy.
What’s with the dress code?
Viewers of Wimbledon will be familiar with the fact that players are required to wear white clothing. The ‘predominantly white’ dress code was introduced in 1963, with the ‘almost entirely white rule’ then brought in in 1995. However, in 2014, accessories were included. It must be noted that the referee on the day can decide whether the players’ appearance is deemed suitable for the match to go ahead.
What’s a wild card?
The Championships’ Committee can consider overseas players for Wimbledon who haven’t qualified, based on their past performance, ranking or recent record indicating significant ranking gain since the close of entries. One of the most notable wild card draws was Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, who competed in the 2001 championships. Having finished as runner-up in 1992, 1994 and 1998, he seemed unlikely to ever hold the title. However, ranking at 125th in 2001, he became the lowest-ranked player to win Wimbledon, and the only male player to win a Grand Slam singles title as a wild card.
Who has the most Wimbledon titles?
In the women’s singles title, it is Czech player Martina Navratilova who currently has the most Wimbledon wins at a total of nine. Both Steffi Graf and Serena Williams have come close with seven singles championships wins, and Serena will continue to fight to break that record.
In the men’s singles title, Swiss champion Roger Federer holds the record at eight wins, with his most recent win back in 2017 when he beat Marin Cilic. Pete Sampras comes in second with seven wins, and Novak Djokovic has tied with Bjorn Borg at five titles.
What about the royals?
There is a long history of Wimbledon and the British royal family with TV shots of various members of the family a common occurrence, particularly during the final matches. Although the Queen has been the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for years, she’s only ever attended the event four times – basically because she’s not a big fan of the sport. However, in stepping down from her role as patron to various organisations, Kate and William have been spotted a number of times, with Kate a huge fan of tennis.
Who is the favourite to win in 2021?
With the interruption in sport the past year, 2021 will be an interesting competition. In the men’s singles, Novak Djokovic is the overwhelming favourite to take on Roger Federer, particularly with Rafael Nadal pulling out of the tournament this year. In the women’s singles, Serena Williams, who is going for the record 24 career Grand Slam titles, is touted a top contender. Her chances have been improved with top seed, Ashleigh Barty, and second seed, Simona Halep, unlikely to be at full strength, and second-ranked Naomi Osaka opting out of Wimbledon 2021.
Don’t get ‘court’ out, tune in to all the Wimbledon action to make those lockdown days just fly by!
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