Wimbledon is the world’s oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament played on grass – the original tennis court surface. There is a glamour and prestige attached to Wimbledon, which cannot be surpassed by any other Grand Slam venue. The joy of winning a Wimbledon title is unbeatable; somehow, despite there being so many other tournaments in the world, every tennis player’s ultimate dream is to win a title at the Centre Court of Wimbledon.
There are so many memories attached to this centre court – Federer and Nadal’s epic battle in 2008, Boris Becker beating John McEnroe in a thrilling five-setter, and the many victories of Martina Navratilova. There are so many interesting facts about Wimbledon which are not common knowledge, yet they are what make Wimbledon what it is – a hallowed place in the tennis and sporting world.
Strawberries and Cream
It just seems that no Wimbledon is complete without the consumption of strawberries and cream. Over 28,000 kilogrammes of strawberries and 7,000 litres of cream are eaten by the spectators here every year. They just taste better here than anywhere else!
Rufus the Hawk
Rufus, a Harris hawk, is responsible for keeping the pigeons away from Wimbledon during the tournament. He works from 5.30 pm till 9.30 pm and even has a badge stating his designation – Bird-Scarer. After the tournament is over, he goes back to Westminster Abbey to keep the pigeons there under control.
Dress Restrictions
This is the only Grand Slam where there is a dress code – it has to be white and should be decorous. The chair umpire’s decision on the dress code is final, and Andre Agassi refused to play in this tournament from 1988 to 1990 because he did not approve of the dress code and he felt the atmosphere was stuffy. Anna Kournikova was sent back to change after she was found practising in black shorts.
Ball Boys and Girls
The young boys and girls who you see around the court are chosen after a rigorous test. They are checked for physical fitness, their knowledge of the game and their average age is around 15 years. There are approximately 250 children who are chosen and for each match there are six of them – two next to the nets and one each in every corner. Their uniforms are provided by Ralph Lauren, and they are paid around £150 for the two weeks of the tournament.
History
Wimbledon started as a private member’s club in 1877. It was earlier known as the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Few people have any recollection of Croquet being played in these hallowed grounds. From 1915 to 1918, and from 1940 till 1945, no matches were played here due to the World Wars. During World War II, five bombs were dropped on the Centre Court and it took five years before they were able to repair it fully.
Prize Money
It was only in 2007 that women and men began to receive equal prize money. Now the winners receive £ 1.15 million each. Last year, they increased the total prize money by 10 % and the raise was 20 %, especially for those who lost in the qualifying rounds and in the 1st rounds. All these changes were incorporated due to the efforts of the top players in the world.
Dates
The tournament always begins on the sixth Monday before the first Monday of August. It lasts 13 days and the middle Sunday is always a rest day.
