T Championships Wimbledon, simply Wimbledon, oldest tennis tournament world generally considered prestigious. I A England C London suburb Wimbledon since 1877. I Grand S tennis tournaments, y still played game's original surface, grass, which g g tennis .

T tournament takes place weeks J early July, culminating ladies' gentlemen's singles final, scheduled respectively second Saturday Sunday. E year, major events contested, junior events invitational events.

T court Australian Op y court French Op precede Wimbledon calendar y. T court US Op follows. F , grass court Queen's C Championships, London, Gerry Weber Op Halle, Germany, Ordina Op '-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands popular p tournaments Wimbledon. F women, there -p tournaments Birmingham Eastbourne.

Wimbledon traditions include eating strawberries cream, drinking Pimms spritzers, royal patronage strict dress competitors. I 2009, Wimbledon's Centre Court fitted retractable insure against possibility delays interrupting Centre Court matches during tournament.

Beginnings

T A England L Tennis Croquet C private founded 1868, originally 'T A England Croquet Club'. I first ground situated Worple Road, Wimbledon.

I 1875, tennis, g devised y Major Walter Clopton Wingfield y earlier originally called 'Sphairistike', added activities . I spring 1877, -titled 'T A England Croquet L Tennis Club' signalled change y instituting first L Tennis Championship. A (replacing until administered y Marylebone Cricket C) drawn p event. Today's rules similar except details height posts distance service .

T y event 1877 Gentlemen's Singles, which y Spencer Gore, Harrovian rackets player, field 22. About 200 spectators p shilling watch final.

T lawns ground arranged principal court located middle others arranged around ; hence title 'Centre Court', which retained C moved 1922 present Church Road, although description location. However, 1980 courts brought commission north ground, which meant Centre Court correctly defined. T opening N. 1 Court 1997 emphasised description.

By 1882, activity almost exclusively confined tennis y 'croquet' dropped title. However, sentimental reasons, restored 1889 since title remained T A England L Tennis Croquet C.

I 1884, A England C added ladies' singles gentlemen's doubles. Ladies' doubles mixed doubles added 1913. Until 1922, reigning champion py y final, against whoever through challenge . A other three Grand S events, Wimbledon contested y p-ranked amateur players until advent p tennis 1968. N British singles event Wimbledon since F Perry 1936 British woman Ladies Singles since Virginia W 1977, although Annabel Croft Laura Robson girls' championship 1984 2008, respectively. T Championship first televised 1937.

21 century

Wimbledon widely considered premier tennis tournament world priority T A England L Tennis Club, which hosts T Championships, maintain leadership 21 century. T g- p unveiled 1993, intended improve quality event spectators, players, officials neighbours.

Stage p completed 1997 championships involved building Aorangi P N. 1 Court, broadcast centre, extra grass courts tunnel under linking Church R Somerset R.

Stage involved removal N. 1 Court complex y Millennium Building, providing extensive facilities players, press, officials members, extension W Stand Centre Court 728 extra seats.

Stage three completed construction entrance building, housing staff, museum, ticket office.

A retractable built 2009 championships, marking first tournament's history p py lengthly Centre Court. T A England C tested event called A Centre Court Celebration Sunday, 17 My 2009, which featured exhibition matches involving Andre Agassi, Steffi G, K Clijsters T Henman. T first Championship match place under completion fourth round women's singles match between Dinara Safina Amelie Mauresmo. T first match played entirety under between Ay Murray Stanislas Wawrinka 29 J 2009, which Murray 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3. T match recorded latest finish T Championships, concluding 10.38p. A 4000- N. 2 Court built N. 13 Court ready 2009 Championships. A 2000- N. 3 Court being built Court N. 2.