What is Wimbledon?
Quick answer
Wimbledon is the world’s oldest tennis tournament, first held in 1877 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. It’s the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments still played on grass, and it takes place each year in late June and early July.
The four Grand Slams
| Tournament | Location | Surface | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | Melbourne | Hard court | January |
| French Open (Roland-Garros) | Paris | Clay | May–June |
| Wimbledon | London | Grass | June–July |
| US Open | New York | Hard court | August–September |
Famous Wimbledon traditions
- All-white dress code: Players must wear almost entirely white clothing.
- Strawberries and cream: Fans eat tens of thousands of portions every year.
- The Queue: Fans line up, sometimes camping overnight, for same-day tickets.
- No advertising on the courts beyond small sponsor marks.
- Until 2022, a rest day on the middle Sunday; play now runs on all days.
- Henman Hill / Murray Mound: a grassy slope where fans watch on a big screen.
Why grass matters
Grass is fast and low-bouncing, rewarding big serves and quick net play. The courts are cut to exactly 8 mm during the tournament. Since 2009, Centre Court has had a retractable roof for rainy days.
Records
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Most men’s singles titles | Roger Federer, 8 |
| Most women’s singles titles | Martina Navratilova, 9 |
| Longest match | John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut, 2010: 11 hours, 5 minutes over three days |
The trophies
The men’s champion receives a gilded silver cup, and the women’s champion a silver plate called the Venus Rosewater Dish. Winners’ names are added to the honors boards around the club.
For more about British sport and culture, see what a hat-trick is, another term from Britain. Planning to watch from abroad? Check what time it is in London.
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