5 lesser known facts about Wimbledon

Wimbledon isthe most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.It has been around for years and comes with a certain prestige and value attached to it.Below are fivefacts that you may not know about the grand old tennis tournament:

#1 Tournament just for men!

Wimbledon started off in 1877, which makes it the longest running tennis tournament. It is now into it’s 137th year, an impeccable feat for the tournament.

But did you know that when Wimbledon started it only had 22 players, and that too only men! Wimbledon started as a tournament called the “Gentlemen’s Championship”, and it was only in 1884 that the women’s championship and gentlemen’s doubles were introduced at the tournament.

#2 First winners

A first win is always special, and more so when it’s the first time anyone has ever won a particular tournament. The first-time Wimbledon champions will always remain in the sport’s history books.

The first winner of Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles was Spencer Gore, who defeated William Marshall in straight sets.

The first winner of women’s singles was Maud Watson; she defeated L. Watson, also in straight sets.

Today we have the Bryan brothers having impeccable command over Wimbledon with three titles to their name. the success story at Wimbledon in men’s doubles also started with the duo or Renshaw brothers, who won men’s doubles at Wimbledon for a whopping 5 times.

#3 Only 2 interruptions in the organization of the tournament

In the history of Wimbledon, the tournament has been interrupted only twice and on both the occasions it was due to the World War.

The tournament was cancelled first during the World War I from 1915-18, and then during World War II, 1940-45.

For a tournament of Wimbledon’s standards, the fluency of the event has to be applauded. It’s a matter of great pride for the All-England Club to have arranged Wimbledon with the quality that they have for all these years.

#4 The youngest ever champion - just 15 years old!

Wimbledon has seen many stars rise from its junior tournament which is held alongside the seniors’ Wimbledon, but there was one girl who successfully clinched the title – not the juniors one but the seniors one, even though she was just 15.

At 15 years 282 days old, Martina Hingis became the youngest player in the history of Wimbledon to have won the women’s doubles title. Her record is to this very date intact.

#5 The \"Queen\" of Wimbledon

Martina Navratilova has left behind an incredibly legacy in the Wimbledon record books. For her, the tournament was a hunting ground where she excelled to the best of her potential. She was someone who set the highest of the standards for herself and the tournament with her amazing athleticism and wonderful grasscourt acumen.

Navratilova holds the record for the most Wimbledon titles won by a player – nine. Her fearsome power, aggression, determined attitude and true sportsmanship were universally lauded, but more so at Wimbledon.

Her achievement remains untouched and it will surely take something special to win 10 Wimbledon titles and break this near-impossible record.