Daily Junction.mobi portalSports · July 16, 2026 · Tom Bennett · 7 min
Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament — here's how it works, why grass courts matter, and why British players struggle.
Wimbledon (officially The Championships, Wimbledon) is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, held over 2 weeks in late June/early July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. It is one of the four Grand Slams (along with the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open) and the only one played on grass courts. Wimbledon is steeped in tradition — all-white clothing, strawberries and cream, no advertising on Centre Court, and the Royal Box for VIPs. Roger Federer (8 titles) and Serena Williams (7 titles) are the most successful players in the Open Era. British players have won only 3 singles titles since 1936: Virginia Wade (1977) and Andy Murray (2013, 2016). Here is everything you need to know about Wimbledon — how it works, why grass courts matter, and British hopes for glory.
Wimbledon is the third Grand Slam of the year (after the Australian Open and French Open, before the US Open), held over 2 weeks in late June/early July.
Wimbledon is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, south-west London. The club was founded in 1868 and has hosted the Championships since 1877.
The main courts are:
Wimbledon has five main events:
The singles tournaments are knockout (single elimination) — lose and you are out. Matches are best of 5 sets (men) or best of 3 sets (women).
Week 1 (Monday–Sunday): Rounds 1–4 (128 → 64 → 32 → 16)
Middle Sunday: Traditionally a rest day (no play), but now used if weather causes delays
Week 2 (Monday–Sunday): Quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals
Finals weekend:
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam played on grass courts. The other Grand Slams use:
Tennis was invented on grass in the 1870s, and Wimbledon (founded 1877) has kept the tradition. Grass is the fastest surface in tennis:
Grass courts require different skills than hard courts or clay. Players must adjust their game (lower bounce, faster pace, slippery surface).
Serve-and-volley players dominate on grass:
Baseline players (who stay at the back and hit groundstrokes) struggle on grass, because the low bounce and fast pace favour aggressive, attacking play.
Wimbledon was founded in 1877 and is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
Before 1968, Wimbledon was amateur-only (no prize money). In 1968, the tournament became open to professionals, and prize money was introduced.
Men's singles:
Women's singles:
British players have a terrible record at Wimbledon. Since 1936, only 3 British players have won the singles title:
Fred Perry won 3 consecutive titles (1934–1936) and was the last British man to win Wimbledon until Andy Murray in 2013 (77 years later).
Virginia Wade won the ladies' singles in 1977 (the Queen's Silver Jubilee year), the last British woman to win Wimbledon.
Andy Murray won in 2013 (ending the 77-year drought) and 2016. He is the only British man to win Wimbledon in the Open Era.
Murray reached 3 finals (2012, 2013, 2016) and 11 semi-finals (2009–2017), but he is now 37 years old and past his peak. He retired from singles in 2024.
Emma Raducanu won the US Open in 2021 (aged 18, unseeded, without dropping a set — one of the greatest achievements in tennis history). But she has never won Wimbledon and has struggled with injuries and form since 2021.
Raducanu is the best British hope for a future Wimbledon champion, but she is currently ranked outside the top 100 and faces a long road back.
Wimbledon is famous for its traditions:
Players must wear all-white clothing (including shoes, socks, and undergarments). Even logos and trims must be white. This rule is strictly enforced — players have been fined for wearing coloured underwear visible through white shorts.
Strawberries and cream are the traditional Wimbledon snack. Around 140,000 servings are sold each year (£2.50 per serving).
Centre Court has no advertising (unlike other Grand Slams, which are covered in sponsor logos). This preserves the traditional, elegant atmosphere.
The Royal Box on Centre Court is reserved for royalty, VIPs, and guests of the All England Club. Members of the Royal Family (the King, the Princess of Wales) often attend the finals.
Wimbledon has a famous queue for tickets. Fans camp overnight (or for several days) to buy tickets on the day. The queue is part of Wimbledon folklore, with a strict code of conduct and a friendly atmosphere.
Traditionally, Middle Sunday (the Sunday between the two weeks) was a rest day (no play). But since 2022, Middle Sunday is now used if weather causes delays.
The Gentlemen's Singles Trophy is a silver gilt cup (18 inches tall), first awarded in 1887. The Ladies' Singles Trophy is a silver salver (19 inches diameter), first awarded in 1886.
Winners do not keep the trophies — they receive a three-quarter size replica.
Wimbledon has the highest prize money of any Grand Slam:
2024 prize money:
Total prize money: £50 million (2024)
Wimbledon is the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, and the atmosphere is unique:
Wimbledon is more than a tennis tournament — it is a British institution.
British tennis is in decline. Andy Murray was the only British player to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era (3 titles: US Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013, 2016), but he is now retired from singles.
Emma Raducanu won the US Open in 2021 but has struggled with injuries and form. She is currently ranked outside the top 100 and has not reached a Grand Slam quarter-final since 2021.
No British player is currently ranked in the world top 20 (men's or women's). The next British Wimbledon champion could be decades away.
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