This is Wimbledon.
Welcome to the most spectacular of all the four Grand Slam tournaments.
27 JUNE – 10 JULY 2022
It’s more than a tennis competition, as a certain elitism surrounding the game.
The players here are to be called strictly – ladies and gentlemen. The show requires an explicitly described dress code, which many are often not ready to put up with. Yet, the participants are obliged to respect the rules and traditions rooted in 1868, the year of the club foundation. (back then, however, they played Crockett only). This tournament is also the hottest topic for the media, the most prestigious to participate in, and the most secular to spectate.
Three words on history
As mentioned, at the beginning of it all, the English only played croquet. The event had been held near London, in the suburbs. Later, they decided to set up some courts specifically for tennis in 1875. It took a little time for all the rules and standards to settle. Later on, they made a new type of tournament out of the tennis format.
And so Wimbledon was born. Its most-known personalities are the winner of the first competition Spencer Gore, and Frank Hedow, who became the prize-winner in the second year.
Then everything got real, for the foreign players began to join the tournament as well.
A global-scale event that everyone was watching from now on.
For many years, tennis was divided into professional and amateur. Professionals were not allowed to participate in the Grand Slam tournament until the All England Club and the International Tennis Federation decided to give the green light to everyone.
The gentlemen winner gets a gilded silver cup. Traditionally a silver dish – “The Venus Rosewater Dish” for the lady winner.
Though all winners actually get smaller copies of their awards, their names are engraved on the originals. The second part of the prize is a cash prize fund.
Sure, the competitor dress code is strictly regulated. The colour white should be extreme, neither cream nor anything else. The stripe patterns are not to be wider than 10mm, yet are allowed on all types of clothing. Roger Federer got criticised in 2013 as he wore his orange-soled sneakers. Now, some might say that rules were made to be broken, and that’s why participants often try to stand out in any way possible.
Before telling you about the loyal fans of the championship, we better tell you what they eat while watching the game. Those are strawberries that are specially grown for Wimbledon. Thirty tons to feed the guests every year. When the pandemic struck, they decided to turn it into a jam. Later, they gave it away to charity and doctors.
From up above, there is a guard who watches every minute of the game. It’s a desert buzzard named Rufus, who has been present in all competitions since 2004. That actually got him in trouble, as he was kidnapped for a few days.
The bird’s leg implied medical treatment. Yet, Rufus continued to scare away pigeons and other curious birds from the court after the recovery.
Finally, speaking on the elephant in the room.
The British royal family had been Wimbledon spectators for decades now. For more than a century, it has been a royal tradition to attend tournaments. It started with Prince George of Wales accompanied by his wife, Princess Mary. This tradition is still alive to this day.
Wimbledon opens its doors to rich celebrities as well. Wimbledon is a tribute to the traditions of elite sports and history, so don’t miss it!
