The past couple weeks I have found myself quite attached to the Wimbledon Championships. It is the first time I have followed this prestigious tennis tournament from beginning to end. I suppose I've found myself quite bored with baseball and the off season of football and soccer. Therefore a major world tournament such is this has been a great new summer discovery for me.
The Sport of Tennis
I've always enjoyed the sport of tennis, yet hardly get to play it as much as I would like. I suppose this is because I've yet to find a partner at my level (besides Gabriel who never wants to play with me). I also hardly ever follow the majors on a regular basis, and am just familiar with some of the big names in the game such as Federer, Nadal, and Serena Williams. I have been learning quite a lot this week on the history and format of some of the most prestigious tennis tournaments.Grand Slams of Tennis
The top 4 most prestigious tennis tournaments are known as the Grand Slams, also referred to as the Majors. This includes the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon Championships, and the US Open. The reason these events are so prestigious is because they are the oldest tournaments in the sport, having each been founded in the 1880-1900s. The annual calendar of the Grand Slams begins with the Australian Open in January, the French Open in May, Wimbledon in July, and the US Open in September. These four tournaments make up the Grand Slam and the order of their prestige is debatable however I believe Wimbledon to be the top crown of them all.
Wimbledon Championships
Location: Wimbledon, London, UK
Founded: 1877 (Oldest tennis tournament)
Grounds: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Tournament Format: 128 players qualified based on rankings and wildcards. The top 32 players are seeded based on performances in prior major tournaments. Players face off in a single elimination bracket style tournament. There are 7 rounds of games to reach the final match.
Significance: It is the World Cup of tennis tournaments, being the oldest and most prestigious of them all. It is the 3rd tournament on the annual Grand Slam tournament, held in early July. The event is a British heirloom, regarded for it's formal and traditional format. The players have a strict dress code of wearing all white. The tournament is played on 18 grass courts. The center court hosts the larger matches and seats nearly 16,000.
Year
|
Men's Champion
|
Women's Champion
|
1877
|
Spencer Gore
|
|
1878
|
Frank Hadow
|
|
1879
|
John Hartley
|
|
1880
|
John Hartley
|
|
1881
|
William
Renshaw
|
|
1882
|
William
Renshaw
|
|
1883
|
William
Renshaw
|
|
1884
|
William
Renshaw
|
Maud Watson
|
1885
|
William
Renshaw
|
Maud Watson
|
1886
|
William
Renshaw
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1887
|
Herbert
Lawford
|
Lottie Dod
|
1888
|
Ernest
Renshaw
|
Lottie Dod
|
1889
|
William
Renshaw
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1890
|
Willoughby
Hamilton
|
Lena Rice
|
1891
|
Wilfred
Baddeley
|
Lottie Dod
|
1892
|
Wilfred
Baddeley
|
Lottie Dod
|
1893
|
Joshua Pim
|
Lottie Dod
|
1894
|
Joshua Pim
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1895
|
Wilfred
Baddeley
|
Charlotte
Cooper Sterry
|
1896
|
Harold
Mahoney
|
Charlotte
Cooper Sterry
|
1897
|
Reginald
Doherty
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1898
|
Reginald
Doherty
|
Charlotte
Cooper Sterry
|
1899
|
Reginald
Doherty
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1900
|
Reginald
Doherty
|
Blanche
Bingley Hillyard
|
1901
|
Arthur Gore
|
Charlotte
Cooper Sterry
|
1902
|
Lawrence
Doherty
|
Muriel Robb
|
1903
|
Lawrence
Doherty
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1904
|
Lawrence
Doherty
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1905
|
Lawrence
Doherty
|
May Sutton
|
1906
|
Lawrence
Doherty
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1907
|
Norman
Brookes
|
May Sutton
|
1908
|
Arthur Gore
|
Charlotte
Cooper-Sterry
|
1909
|
Arthur Gore
|
Dora Boothby
|
1910
|
Anthony
Wilding
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1911
|
Anthony
Wilding
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1912
|
Anthony
Wilding
|
Ethel Thomson
Larcombe
|
1913
|
Anthony
Wilding
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1914
|
Norman
Brookes
|
Dorothea
Lambert Chambers
|
1915-18
|
Cancelled Due to World War I
|
|
1919
|
Gerald
Patterson
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1920
|
Bill Tilden
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1921
|
Bill Tilden
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1922
|
Gerald
Patterson
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1923
|
Bill Johnston
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1924
|
Jean Borotra
|
Kitty McKane
Godfree
|
1925
|
René Lacoste
|
Suzanne
Lenglen
|
1926
|
Jean Borotra
|
Kitty McKane
Godfree
|
1927
|
Henri Cochet
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1928
|
René Lacoste
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1929
|
Henri
Cochet(2)
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1930
|
Bill Tilden
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1931
|
Sidney Wood
|
Cilly Aussem
|
1932
|
Ellsworth
Vines
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1933
|
Jack Crawford
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1934
|
Fred Perry
|
Dorothy Round
Little
|
1935
|
Fred Perry
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1936
|
Fred Perry
|
Helen Jacobs
|
1937
|
Don Budge
|
Dorothy Round
Little
|
1938
|
Don Budge
|
Helen Wills
Moody
|
1939
|
Bobby Riggs
|
Alice Marble
|
1940-45
|
Cancelled Due to World War II
|
|
1946
|
Yvon Petra
|
Pauline Betz
Addie
|
1947
|
Jack Kramer
|
Margaret
Osborne duPont
|
1948
|
Bob
Falkenburg
|
Louise Brough
Clapp
|
1949
|
Ted Schroeder
|
Louise Brough
Clapp
|
1950
|
Budge Patty
|
Louise Brough
Clapp
|
1951
|
Dick Savitt
|
Doris Hart
|
1952
|
Frank Sedgman
|
Maureen
Connolly Brinker
|
1953
|
Vic Seixas
|
Maureen
Connolly Brinker
|
1954
|
Jaroslav
Drobný
|
Maureen
Connolly Brinker
|
1955
|
Tony Trabert
|
Louise Brough
Clapp
|
1956
|
Lew Hoad
|
Shirley Fry
Irvin
|
1957
|
Lew Hoad
|
Althea Gibson
|
1958
|
Ashley Cooper
|
Althea Gibson
|
1959
|
Alex Olmedo
|
Maria Bueno
|
1960
|
Neale Fraser
|
Maria Bueno
|
1961
|
Rod Laver
|
Angela
Mortimer Barrett
|
1962
|
Rod Laver
|
Karen Hantze
Susman
|
1963
|
Chuck
McKinley
|
Margaret
Smith Court
|
1964
|
Roy Emerson
|
Maria Bueno
|
1965
|
Roy Emerson
|
Margaret
Smith Court
|
1966
|
Manolo
Santana
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1967
|
John Newcombe
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1968
|
Rod Laver
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1969
|
Rod Laver
|
Ann Haydon
Jones
|
1970
|
John Newcombe
|
Margaret
Smith Court
|
1971
|
John Newcombe
|
Evonne
Goolagong Cawley
|
1972
|
Stan Smith
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1973
|
Jan Kodeš
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1974
|
Jimmy Connors
|
Chris Evert
|
1975
|
Arthur Ashe
|
Billie Jean
King
|
1976
|
Björn Borg
|
Chris Evert
|
1977
|
Björn Borg
|
Virginia Wade
|
1978
|
Björn Borg
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1979
|
Björn Borg
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1980
|
Björn Borg
|
Evonne
Goolagong Cawley
|
1981
|
John McEnroe
|
Chris Evert
|
1982
|
Jimmy Connors
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1983
|
John McEnroe
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1984
|
John McEnroe
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1985
|
Boris Becker
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1986
|
Boris Becker
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1987
|
Pat Cash
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1988
|
Stefan Edberg
|
Steffi Graf
|
1989
|
Boris Becker
|
Steffi Graf
|
1990
|
Stefan Edberg
|
Martina
Navrátilová
|
1991
|
Michael Stich
|
Steffi Graf
|
1992
|
Andre Agassi
|
Steffi Graf
|
1993
|
Pete Sampras
|
Steffi Graf
|
1994
|
Pete Sampras
|
Conchita
MartÃnez
|
1995
|
Pete Sampras
|
Steffi Graf
|
1996
|
Richard
Krajicek
|
Steffi Graf
|
1997
|
Pete Sampras
|
Martina
Hingis
|
1998
|
Pete Sampras
|
Jana Novotná
|
1999
|
Pete Sampras
|
Lindsay
Davenport
|
2000
|
Pete Sampras
|
Venus
Williams
|
2001
|
Goran
Ivaniševic
|
Venus
Williams
|
2002
|
Lleyton
Hewitt
|
Serena
Williams
|
2003
|
Roger Federer
|
Serena
Williams
|
2004
|
Roger Federer
|
Maria
Sharapova
|
2005
|
Roger Federer
|
Venus
Williams
|
2006
|
Roger Federer
|
Amélie
Mauresmo
|
2007
|
Roger Federer
|
Venus
Williams
|
2008
|
Rafael Nadal
|
Venus
Williams
|
2009
|
Roger Federer
|
Serena
Williams
|
2010
|
Rafael Nadal
|
Serena
Williams
|
2011
|
Novak
Djokovic
|
Petra Kvitová
|
2012
|
Roger Federer
|
Serena
Williams
|
2013
|
Andy Murray
|
Marion
Bartoli
|
2014
|
Novak
Djokovic
|
Petra Kvitová
|
2015
|
Novak
Djokovic
|
Serena
Williams
|
2016
|
Andy Murray
|
Serena
Williams
|
Male Multiple Champions
| Player | Open Era | Amateur Era | All-time | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 William Renshaw (BRI) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889 |
 Pete Sampras (USA) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
 Roger Federer (SUI) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 |
 Björn Borg (SWE) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 |
| Laurence Doherty (BRI) | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906 |
| Reginald Doherty (BRI) | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 |
 Rod Laver (AUS) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969 |
 Anthony Wilding (NZL) | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913 |
| Wilfred Baddeley (BRI) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1891, 1892, 1895 |
 Boris Becker (GER) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1985, 1986, 1989 |
 Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2011, 2014, 2015 |
| Arthur Gore (BRI) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1901, 1908, 1909 |
| John McEnroe (USA) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1981, 1983, 1984 |
| John Newcombe (AUS) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1967, 1970, 1971 |
| Fred Perry (GBR) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1934, 1935, 1936 |
 Bill Tilden (USA) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1920, 1921, 1930 |
 Jean Borotra (FRA) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1924, 1926 |
| Norman Brookes (AUS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1907, 1914 |
| Don Budge (USA) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1937, 1938 |
| Henri Cochet (FRA) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1927, 1929 |
| Jimmy Connors (USA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1974, 1982 |
| Stefan Edberg (SWE) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1988, 1990 |
| Roy Emerson (AUS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1964, 1965 |
| John Hartley (BRI) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1879, 1880 |
| Lew Hoad (AUS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1956, 1957 |
| René Lacoste (FRA) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1925, 1928 |
| Andy Murray (GBR) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2013, 2016 |
 Rafael Nadal (ESP) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2008, 2010 |
| Gerald Patterson (AUS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1919, 1922 |
 Joshua Pim (IRL) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1893, 1894 |
Female Multiple champions
| Player | Amateur Era | Open Era | All-time | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martina Navratilova (USA)[i] | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990 |
| Helen Wills Moody (USA) | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1938 |
| Dorothea Lambert Chambers (UK) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914 |
| Steffi Graf (GER) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 |
| Serena Williams (USA) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 |
| Blanche Bingley (UK) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1886, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900 |
| Suzanne Lenglen (FRA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925 |
| Billie Jean King (USA) | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975 |
| Charlotte Cooper Sterry (UK) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1895, 1896, 1898, 1901, 1908 |
| Lottie Dod (UK) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893 |
| Venus Williams (USA) | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008 |
| Louise Brough Clapp (USA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1948, 1949, 1950, 1955 |
| Maureen Connolly (USA) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1952, 1953, 1954 |
 Maria Bueno (BRA) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1959, 1960, 1964 |
| Margaret Court (AUS) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1963, 1965, 1970 |
| Chris Evert (USA) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1974, 1976, 1981 |
| Althea Gibson (USA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1957, 1958 |
| Kitty McKane Godfree (UK) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1924, 1926 |
| May Sutton Bundy (USA) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1905, 1907 |
| Maud Watson (UK) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1884, 1885 |
| Evonne Goolagong Cawley (AUS) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1971, 1980 |
 Petra Kvitová (CZE) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2011, 2014 |
