Wimbledon Tennis

The Wimbledon Tennis Championships start at the end of June. If you like tennis then you will probably enjoy watching. If you don't have the stamina to watch a whole match you can always watch a bit and come back. When I was growing up it was still possible to go along after school and watch the tennis, nowadays that's not so easy. It seems unbelievable that years ago my mother went along not long before the start of the men's final and got in to watch, standing only but still quite unheard of now.
Roger Federer won the French Open for the first time this year (2009). It was his fourth attempt and he is now only one of 6 people to have won all the Grand Slam titles. They are Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Andre Agassi who also was the last man to do this 10 years ago. He now equals Pete Sampras's is record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Not surprisingly he is being hailed as the greatest player ever.
One draw back of the championships is the stream of cars and coaches, the no parking signs everywhere. Oh and those who decide to come to do a bit of star spotting. But Wimbledon also means strawberries and cream, long summer days and rain. Talking of strawberries they served tons of them last year.
Here are some more interesting things you might like to know.
It is know as The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club however it didn't become that until 1877. When the tennis tournament began in 1868 in Worple Rd Wimbledon the title didn't include lawn tennis.
It moved to its current home in Church Rd in 1922.
Women only began to play in the championship from 1884.
It became an international event around 1900 and the first person from abroad won in 1905.
By the 1950's there were a lot more people from abroad taking part.
Over 400,00 people will go and watch the championships during the fortnight. Double the amount since the 1930's and in its Worple Rd days it got around 70,000. This was a smaller venue though and there were fewer people. It was much harder to travel and the majority weren't able.
You can only wear predominately white at Wimbledon.
From Ted Tingling's dresses, the frilly knickers of the 1970's the tournament has seen many fashions come and go.
One bizarre fashion statement came when an American woman wore an all white cat suit, despite being all white it wasn't allowed. I don't suppose it was any coincidence either that her name was Anne White.

© Children's Web Magazine 2005 -2009

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			Wimbledon Tennis
			The Wimbledon Tennis Championships start at the end of June. If you like tennis then you will probably enjoy watching. If you don't have the stamina to watch a whole match you can always watch a bit and come back. When I was growing up it was still possible to go along after school and watch the tennis, nowadays that's not so easy. It seems unbelievable that years ago my mother went along not long before the start of the men's final and got in to watch, standing only but still quite unheard of now. Roger Federer won the French Open for the first time this year (2009). It was his fourth attempt and he is now only one of 6 people to have won all the Grand Slam titles. They are Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Andre Agassi who also was the last man to do this 10 years ago. He now equals Pete Sampras's is record of 14 Grand Slam titles. Not surprisingly he is being hailed as the greatest player ever. One draw back of the championships is the stream of cars and coaches, the no parking signs everywhere. Oh and those who decide to come to do a bit of star spotting. But Wimbledon also means strawberries and cream, long summer days and rain. Talking of strawberries they served tons of them last year. Here are some more interesting things you might like to know. It is know as The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club however it didn't become that until 1877. When the tennis tournament began in 1868 in Worple Rd Wimbledon the title didn't include lawn tennis. It moved to its current home in Church Rd in 1922. Women only began to play in the championship from 1884. It became an international event around 1900 and the first person from abroad won in 1905. By the 1950's there were a lot more people from abroad taking part. Over 400,00 people will go and watch the championships during the fortnight. Double the amount since the 1930's and in its Worple Rd days it got around 70,000. This was a smaller venue though and there were fewer people. It was much harder to travel and the majority weren't able. You can only wear predominately white at Wimbledon. From Ted Tingling's dresses, the frilly knickers of the 1970's the tournament has seen many fashions come and go. One bizarre fashion statement came when an American woman wore an all white cat suit, despite being all white it wasn't allowed. I don't suppose it was any coincidence either that her name was Anne White. © Children's Web Magazine 2005 -2009


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