Wimbledon has long been regarded as a prestigious, iconic tennis tournament. Year after year, the most beautiful matches are played on the magical grass in London, where Wimbledon was first held in 1877. The tournament remains one of the most beautiful highlights of the tennis season and is also a source of inspiration for both players and tennis fans worldwide. Wimbledon is back in July, and the players can once again don their white uniforms to show their best play in London. Reason enough for Sjeng Sports to delve a little deeper into the history of Wimbledon.
The origins of Wimbledon
Wimbledon was first played in 1877. Back then, it was a modest tournament with only 22 participants, organized by the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. Spencer Gore was the very first winner of the Wimbledon final that year. From then on, the tournament was held on grass courts, a tradition that continues to this day. Incidentally, Wimbledon's early years played a crucial role in standardizing the rules of tennis, which contributed to the sport's growth worldwide.
In 1884, Wimbledon expanded. The tournament also included women's singles and men's doubles that year. The first woman to win the Wimbledon final that year was Maud Watson. Wimbledon's expansion in 1884 marked its emergence as a leading international sporting event. In the decades that followed, the tournament grew in popularity and prestige, thanks in part to the participation of famous tennis players who elevated the tournament to an ever-higher level.
Open Era and modernization
Another important milestone in Wimbledon's history was the introduction of the famous "Open Era" in 1968. This Open Era allowed professional and celebrity players to compete at Wimbledon, resulting in a higher standard of play and a broader, global appeal for the tournament. Famous tennis players like Rod Laver, Björn Borg, and Billie Jean King dominated during this period, achievements that contributed to Wimbledon's legendary status. It's no wonder these names remain highly recognized in tennis: think of the Rod Laver Cup (the battle between Team Europe and Team World) and the Billie Jean King Cup (the international tennis competition for women's national teams).
In the years that followed, Wimbledon underwent increasing modernization. For example, the electronic scoreboard was introduced in 1986, and in 2009, a retractable roof was built over Centre Court. This means that tennis can now continue uninterrupted in London, even when it rains. Thanks in part to these technological and infrastructure improvements, Wimbledon remains a leading tennis tournament to this day.
Legendary matches
Tennis at Wimbledon remains an iconic phenomenon, and over the years, many, many legendary matches have been fought on London's beautiful grass. We can't, of course, highlight all these famous matches, but we've picked out two you should definitely know about.
John Isner v Nicolas Mahut (2010)
A match that lasted a whopping eleven (!) hours and five minutes. That was the match between American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round of Wimbledon in 2010. The match, which took place over three days, is considered the longest match ever. The fifth set, in particular, lasted over eight hours and was one to remember. It ultimately ended 70-68 in favor of the tall American, who managed to hit an impressive 113 aces in the match. Since then, the Wimbledon rules have changed, so it's no longer the case that a single set lasts as many as 138 games. A match tiebreak is now called for at 6-6 in the fifth set.
Rafael Nadal – Roger Federer (2008)
Many still consider the 2008 Wimbledon final, between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, one of the greatest matches of all time. For five consecutive years, the Swiss had dominated the hallowed grass in London, but this time the playing field was different. This was especially true because Nadal had decisively defeated his rival a few weeks earlier at Roland Garros. Nadal seemed the stronger player in this match as well, winning both the first two sets 6-4, but then Federer showed his best game. He won both sets three (7-6) and four (7-6), and the decisive fifth set was to decide who would win Wimbledon 2008. After nearly five hours of tennis, the final blow came: Nadal broke Federer's serve and took the set 9-7, securing his first career Wimbledon title.
Dutch at Wimbledon
When we look at the most successful Dutch players at Wimbledon, all eyes are naturally on Richard Krajicek. He made history in 1996 by becoming the first Dutchman ever to win the Wimbledon title. In the final, he proved too strong for his American opponent MaliVai Washington, whom he defeated in three sets. In the women's singles, Betty Stöve reached the Wimbledon final in 1977, ultimately losing to Virginia Wade. In doubles, there have been more Dutch successes in London. For example, Jacco Eltingh, Paul Haarhuis, and Jean-Julien Rojer have all won the men's doubles title, and last year (2023) Wesley Koolhof was the most celebrated man with his doubles partner Neal Skupski. In the women's doubles, Stöve was the only Dutch player to secure a Wimbledon title.
Wimbledon 2024 starts on July 1
Last year, Carlos Alcaraz won Wimbledon in the men's singles, while Marketa Vondrousova was the strongest in the women's singles tournament. Among Dutch singles players, it was Botic van de Zandschulp who reached the second round at Wimbledon the furthest. Who will take home the overall victory this year, at Wimbledon 2024? We'll find out starting July 1st!
Wimbledon winners in recent years
2023: Carlos Alcaraz (m) and Marketa Vondrousova (f)
2022: Novak Djokovic (m) and Elena Rybakina (f)
2021: Novak Djokovic (m) and Ashleigh Barty (f)
2020: not played due to the corona pandemic
2019: Novak Djokovic (m) and Simona Halep (f)
