Roger, royals and rackets – a glorious guide to the prestigious tournament.
Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. Taking place from 1 to 14 July, it is held at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Over the years, the championship has welcomed sporting superstars including Billie Jean King, Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Serena Williams. This year, Wimbledon 2024 visitors can catch top players including Andy Murray, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
The All England Croquet Club was founded in 1868, and the first-ever Wimbledon tournament took place in 1877. The event was the world’s first official lawn tennis tournament, and it was originally created to raise enough funds to repair a broken roller for the lawns. During the event, wooden rackets were used to play, the last of which was used in 1987.
Wimbledon 2024 has a total prize fund of £50,000,000, an increase of almost 12 per cent from 2023. The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles champions will each receive £2,700,000, while those bowing out in the first round will still receive £60,000.
The Wimbledon 2024 tournament comprises seven rounds and the first two days are taken up by the men’s and women’s first-rounds. The quarter-final is on 9 and 10 July, semi-finals are on 11 and 12 July. The all-important final takes place on 14 July – as the world will see who becomes the Wimbledon 2024 champion.
Wimbledon traditions
Over the years, Wimbledon has become famous for its quaint traditions. In 1963, it was announced that players must wear all white, and what is deemed as suitable clothing is left to the discretion of the referee. Plus, visitors often dress their best and famous faces, from celebrities to politicians, can be spotted in the stands.
No trip to Wimbledon is complete without strawberries and cream. Over the competition, a whopping 191,930 portions of strawberries are consumed. Pimm’s is the drink of choice and 276,291 glasses are drunk.
The Royal Box includes, well, members of the royal family. The King and Queen have rarely made an appearance in the box, but the Prince and Princess of Wales are often seen in the box. In recent years, the trophies have been handed out by Kate Middleton. In 2022, Prince George joined his parents and Djokovic gave him his trophy to hold.
The most successful players include Swiss Roger Federer, who has won eight men’s titles, and Czech Martina Navratilova, who has won nine women’s titles. This year, Djokovic is hoping to tie with Federer’s record, as he has won seven times. Djokovic has even started his own Wimbledon tradition when he wins of eating grass from the grounds.
Wimbledon 2024 tickets
Each year, there is a ballot for Wimbledon tickets, which opens in September. The ballot has closed, but don’t fret – there are ways of watching the action and it’s not just on TV. This is one of the few sports where you can buy tickets on the day.
Five hundred tickets for Centre Court are sold each day, except during the last four days of the tournament. Ground Pass tickets are available and give visitors access to courts three, 12 and 18, and The Hill (affectionately known as Henman Hill and Murray Mound, after the players Tim Henman and Andy Murray). Plus, there is a ticket resale scheme and last-minute tickets for American Express cardholders.
The British love to queue, so much so that Wimbledon 2024 has formed The Queue. If you join the line in Wimbledon Park by 9am, you have a good chance of getting onto the grounds. We’d recommend bringing a picnic blanket, food and drink, and arriving at sunrise. Note: there are toilets and food trucks. Eating grass is optional.
Anyone for the tennis?
GO: Visit www.wimbledon.com for more information.