Rematch?

England proudly cradles the oldest and possibly the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Wimbledon is held the last two weeks of June and early July at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Opening in 1868, the private club hosts the five main Wimbledon events and four invitation events. These events consist of Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Doubles and singles, as well as mixed doubles. The Committee of Management and the Referee, selecting 128 players, determine applications for entry. The beautiful Wimbledon grounds house 19 grass tennis courts.

            Some traditions have prevailed throughout the history of this iconic event in English history. Ball boys and ball girls, for instance, play a crucial role in the smooth operation of the tournament. They are generally provided by local schools and are meant to simply blend into the background while performing their jobs quietly. Dark green and purple stand as the traditional Wimbledon colors but the tennis players are required to wear white clothing while playing in the tournament. Tickets to Wimbledon are sold to the general public are available through the public ballot that the All England Club holds annually. This tradition has prevailed since 1924.

            Tournament winners have received trophies since 1887, presented by the President of the All England Club. Prize money was first awarded in 1968. For the 2010 Championships, the total prize money increased to £13,725,000, and the singles champions received £1,000,000 each.

            Maybe I’ll have the opportunity to witness Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams in actions on the court this summer!