Anthony Wilding and Beals Wright looking dapper during a Wimbledon match in 1910. (WanderlustTravel)
In 1877, the prestigious Wimbledon Championships held their inaugural event in the London suburbs. Rumor has it the illustrious cricket club held the event to foot the bill to repair the club's pony roller, used to maintain the croquet lawns. Nevertheless, well over 100 years later Wimbledon continues as one of the premier events in tennis.
The first tournament happened so long ago that the prize came in guineas, a defunct United Kingdom currency traditionally used for luxury goods. Today, all across the world millions of people watch Wimbledon every year and enjoy the many quintessentially British aspects of the event. Here are the early days of Wimbledon brought to life in color.
As tennis grew in popularity Wimbledon was forced to move to accommodate more spectators.
The First Wimbledon Event
The inceptive Wimbledon Championships fell well short of the massive world event that it has become today. In 1877, just 22 men paid the one guinea registration fee to play at the All England Club. As the announcement read in sporting magazine “The Field,” “The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, propose [sic] to hold a lawn tennis meeting open to all amateurs, on Monday, July 9, and following days. Entrance fee, one pound, one shilling."
Arthur Gore in 1908 competing with an amazing mustache during the men's singles tournament. (getty)
A Tennis Surge
At that time, tennis held very little cultural currency. Back then, people cared much more about croquet and cricket. In fact, initially the All England Club didn’t even have a tennis court but as more and more people took up the sport, the club decided to get in on the action. One of the 22 pioneering participants failed to show, leaving 21 men fighting for the 25 Guinea trophy. Tennis’ lack of cache was exemplified by the final being postponed to leave the sporting calendar free for the cricket final between Eton vs. Harrow.
Obviously, the equipment and the fashion have come a long way.
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Eventually, William Marshall took a beating at the hands of W. Spencer Gore 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Gore’s strong volley game served him well, making him the event’s first champion. To highlight how long ago this occurred, Gore lost the next year, thanks to a mind-blowing innovation by Frank Hadow: the lob.
King George V opening the 1926 Wimbledon. Suzanne Lenglen kneels before the royal consort Queen Mary.(Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Quintessentially British
In rankings of British archetypes, Wimbledon only ranks behind tea, the Union Jack, and of course, the Royal Family. From the beginning, the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club demanded that various traditions be upheld. For instance, players were and are still forced to dress “almost entirely in white.” The rules are so strict that referees can disqualify players for failing to comply.
The Royal connection at Wimbledon remains strong even today.
Royal Connection
In 1907, the Prince of Wales and Princess Mary who eventually became King George V and Queen Mary attended Wimbledon. That marked the first connection between the British Royals and Wimbledon but far from the last. The new secretary of the club George Hillyard, who was friends with the prince, asked him to present the trophy to the winners.
Three years later the King became the Patron of the All England Club, a tradition that carries on to this day. Strawberries and cream, and champagne in Pimm’s cups also became classic British additions for perhaps the most emblematic tournament for any country in the world.
Dorothea Lambert-Chambers in 1914.(Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
First Women’s Wimbledon
In 1884 seven years after the men established Wimbledon, the women got their chance. Maud Watson took the opening victory as the tournament quickly grew in stature. That same year, the national men’s doubles championship also occurred at the posh club as more people took an interest.
By 1913 mixed doubles and women’s doubles joined the field. The event had outgrown the club’s humble beginnings. In 1922, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it was called, moved to a much larger stadium on Church Road where it has remained ever since. In the 1950s, tennis grew into a true professional sport. Meanwhile, Wimbledon stubbornly stayed an amateur event and lost some of its luster. By 1968 they came to their senses and the event regained its status as a premiere tennis championship.
Chamber' marathon lost to Suzanne Lenglen helped ignite the Frenchwoman star-making run.
Wimbledon Trailblazer
One of the earliest stars of Wimbledon was a woman named Dorothea Lambert Chambers. Over her impressive career, she won Wimbledon an astounding seven women's singles titles. Her first win came in 1903. She also competed in two of the most historic matches in the early years of Wimbledon.
In the 1911 final, she beat Dora Boothby 6-0, 6-0, becoming the first player ever to win a grand slam event without losing a single game. 16 years later, she also participated in the longest Wimbledon match to that point. She and eventual superstar Suzanne Lenglen of France took an astounding 44 games to decide a winner. Finally, Lenglen prevailed 10-8, 4-6, 9-7.
