Wimbledon: An illustrious history
With the 2024 Wimbledon Championships rapidly approaching, we take a look back at the history of lawn tennis, the tournament itself, and last year’s action.
Excitement and anticipation are growing rapidly ahead of the start of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, which will once again be hosted at the iconic and historic All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. World Class Tennis action is set to take place over the course of 14 days, from Monday 1st July to Sunday 14th July 2024.
A plethora of matches will be taking part on the courts throughout this highly prestigious tournament. For example, the Ladies’ Singles Final will be played on Saturday 13th July, whilst the Gentlemen’s Singles Final is set to take place on Sunday 14th July 2024. The Gentlemen’s Doubles Final will be on 13th July, whilst the Ladies’ Doubles Final is to get underway a day later.
The Gentleman’s singles Champion from 2023 was Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who was able to beat one of the sport’s most successful players in the form of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic 1 – 6, 7 – 6 (8 – 6), 6 – 1, 3 – 6, 6 – 4. Djokovic was the four-time defending champion, and it took more than 4 hours and 42 minutes for this enthralling match to conclude – the third longest. The only Men’s singles finals to be longer was back in 2008 (4hrs 48mins) and in 2019 (4hrs 57mins).
Not only did Alcaraz retain his number one ranking, he also became the first player outside of the ‘big four’ to emerge victorious in the Gentleman’s Singles Final at Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt did so back in 2002 against Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
As for the reigning Ladies’ Singles Champion, this honour is currently held by the Czech Republic’s Marketa VondrouÅ¡ová, who was a 6 – 4, 6 – 4 winner against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur back in 2023. Not only was this VondrouÅ¡ová’s first-ever major tennis title, but she was also the first unseeded female player to ever win the Ladies’ Singles title.
The Wimbledon Championships is the most famous lawn tennis tournament in the world, having first taken place back in 1877, which is almost 150 years ago. 2024 will see the 137th edition of this famous championship take place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
In the Open Era, the player with the most singles titles is Switzerland’s Roger Federer, who has no less than 8 Wimbledon wins. They came in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 & in 2017. The amateur era saw Great Britain’s William Renshaw win the Men’s singles title 7 times: 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, and in 1889.
The origins of lawn tennis itself can be traced all the way back to 1874, when Major Walter Wingfield, a former British Army Officer introduced he introduced what is now tennis onto grass. His innovations were the use of rackets, balls, posts, a net, and the marked outlines of the court. Demand for the sport grew rapidly and soon other innovators such as John Hinde Hale, Harry Gem, and Augurio Perera all developed their versions of the sport.
The All England Croquet Club, known today as the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, was founded back on 23rd July 1868. It was renamed to what it is today in 1877 when it held its inaugural championships.
Lawn tennis, and tennis as a whole, has only grown from strength to strength since then. And, fast forward to today, and it is the Wimbledon Championships that is seen by many as the most historic, famous, and prestigious tennis tournament in the world.
All eyes will be on the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, with some of the best players on the planet competing for the most prestigious singles and doubles prizes in the sport of tennis. The 14 days of action this year will be taking place from Monday 1st to Sunday 14th July 2024.
There is no better way to experience world-class tennis at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Wimbledon Hospitality – 2024
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