Unveiling Wimbledon’s Secret History and Quirky Past

The Wimbledon Championship, a global sporting icon, harbors numerous secrets beneath its hallowed grounds. Originally known as ‘Sphairistike’ and featuring hourglass-shaped courts, lawn tennis was pioneered in 1874 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield. The tournament itself began in 1877 as a fundraiser for the All England Croquet Club’s broken roller. The first winner, Spencer Gore, notably returned his £10 prize money, hoping to boost the sport’s growth.

Beyond the courts, Wimbledon boasts the Kenneth Ritchie Wimbledon Library, a publicly accessible treasure trove of 15,000 tennis-related items used by historians and filmmakers. Centre Court, despite its grandeur, is exclusively used for the two-week tournament, while No. 1 Court holds a precise capacity of 12,345. Innovative ‘hairdryers’ beneath the court swiftly dry the grass during rain, and scoreboards remain frozen with the previous year’s winning scores for 50 weeks.

Historical quirks include David Attenborough’s influence in adopting yellow tennis balls for better TV visibility in 1986, and past on-court Coke vending machines. French player Suzanne Lenglen was known to sip champagne during matches, contrasting with Blanche Bingley’s 1907 mishap, where a heavy brunch led to her swift defeat after mistakenly thinking her match was cancelled.

The club’s extensive underground network houses an incredible archive, including 10,000 rackets dating back to the sport’s inception, and a massive, nearly three-meter-long display racket. Iconic clothing, from René Lacoste’s blazer to Cliff Richard’s memorable rain-off singalong jacket, also forms part of Wimbledon’s rich, preserved history.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/features/secrets-of-wimbledon)