23 stats about Wimbledon
Author:
Categorised In:
Share:
Each year, millions of people around the world stick their TVs on to watch Wimbledon, the most prestigious tennis tournament on the planet. Not only is it renowned worldwide, but it’s also one of the oldest tennis competitions in existence – with its first match dating back to 1877 in London.
More than a century has passed since then, but the tournament still rallies each summer, drawing the attention of amateur tennis fanatics, internationals, and even, famous celebrities. Ariana Grande, David Beckham, and Hugh Jackman are just some of the stars to have graced Wimbledon over the years – proving the tournament isn’t just a sporting event, but a social occasion, too.
If you’re like us, you’re probably treating Wimbledon as a chance to host a BBQ and whip out the Pimm’s, as you cheer on some of England’s greatest sports icons. And, whilst you wait for the tournament to get started, we’ll answer some of the most popular Wimbledon questions, and even share 23 interesting stats about the tournament to get you pumped up.
Why is it called Wimbledon?
Wimbledon was previously known as ‘The Championships, Wimbledon’.
It gets its latter part of the name from where the tournament was first played, at The All England Club in Wimbledon – a district in the South West of London. The competition has been played in the same town ever since.
Why do players wear white at Wimbledon?
Put simply, players wear white to Wimbledon as it’s part of the dress code. If you’re wondering why white is a part of the dress code, well, it dates back to its inception in the 1880s – and it isn’t the most sophisticated of reasons.
Back then, sweat stains were seen as unsightly (which is kind of hard to disagree with), but they were so improper to audiences of that time that white was chosen as a way of minimising their visibility (britannica.com).
So, next time you wonder why Wimbledon’s tennis players don’t seem to sweat that much – they’re just hiding it!
Stats about Wimbledon’s history
- The longest match in Wimbledon history took place in 2010 between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut – lasting 11 hours and five minutes over the course of three days. Ultimately, Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set. (ESPN)
- 2019 was a record year for Wimbledon – with 500,397 people attending the competition over a two week period. (wimbledon.com)
- A retractable roof was installed and first used in 2009 – this was so matches could continue in the rain. (theguardian.com)
- The competition has been held annually since 1877, except during the World Wars and the COVID pandemic. (forbes.com)
- Over the years, Wimbledon has expanded to meet the needs of its evergrowing players, spectators, and competitions. There are now 18 championship grass courts and numerous other facilities. (inews.co.uk)
- In 1977, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum was created. It features exhibits on the history of the tournament and sport. (museu.ms)
- The prize for single competition winners in 2023 was around £2 million. (inews.co.uk)
- First televised in 1937, Wimbledon is one of the earliest sporting events to be broadcast live on television. (wimbledon.com)
- Due to its popularity, some spectators queue for tickets. This has been a tradition since the 1920s – with people still camping outside the box office for tickets to this day. (eveningstandard.co.uk)
Stats about Wimbledon’s male players
- Bjorn Borg holds the record for the most consecutive men’s singles titles. From 1976 to 1980, he won five in a row. (britannica.com)
- John Isner hit a record of 113 aces against Nicolas Mahut in their first-round match in 2010. (tennismajors.com)
- Roger Federer holds the record for the most Wimbledon men’s singles titles, with 8 victories in 2003-2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017. (bbc.co.uk)
- Federer also holds the record for most matches won in Wimbledon’s singles history – with 105 wins. (tennishead.net)
- Boris Becker holds the title for the youngest men’s singles champion – when he won his first title in 1985 at 17. (tennismajors.com)
- The Bryan brothers – Bob and Mike – have won the most men’s doubles titles at Wimbledon, with 3 victories in 2006, 2011 and 2013. (wimbledon.com)
- In 1975, Arthur Ashe was the first African-American man to win Wimbledon, beating favourite Jimmy Connors. (bbc.co.uk)
Stats about Wimbledon’s female players
- Proving that age is just a number, Charlotte Cooper Sterry won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 1908 at 37 – making her the oldest champion in history. (tennisfame.com)
- The first African-American player to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon was Althea Gibson in 1957, and then again the following year. (britannica.com)
- Serena Williams holds the record for the most aces in a single women’s Wimbledon tournament, hitting 102 in 2012. (wimbledon.com)
- Billie Jean King defeated Judgy Tegard Dalton and won the first women’s singles title in the Open Era in 1968, she was the number 1 female tennis player in the world at the time. (tennis.com)
- In the 1922 women’s singles final, Suzanne Leglan beat Molla Maloray in just 26 minutes – making it the shortest in Wimbledon’s history. (tennis.com)
- With 120 matches at her helm, Martina Navratilova holds the record for the most match wins in women’s singles history. (olympics.com)
- Billie Jean King and and Margaret Court hold the record for longest women’s singles final in 1970 – lasting 2 hours and 27 minutes when Court won. (nytimes.com)
Who won Wimbledon 2023?
Wimbledon has twenty different trophies up for grabs, depending on the tournament players are involved in. For example, in 2023, the men’s singles trophy was won by Carlos Alcaraz, whilst Markéta Vondroušová won the women’s singles.
When does Wimbledon start?
Wimbledon starts on the 1st of July 2024 and runs for 14 days – with the final scheduled for the 14th of July. It will be broadcast daily on BBC1 and BBC2, so don’t forget to put it in your calendar!
Deeper insights
At Embryo, we’re lovers of all things data-driven. If you’re fascinated by current affairs and trends, take a look at our other stats-based blogs:
More importantly, if you’d like to learn more about how our team uses data to drive successful content marketing campaigns, get in touch today!
