July 9, 1877 – The First-ever Wimbledon tennis championship tournament began. It was truly a watershed moment as Wimbledon was the first official lawn tennis tournament anywhere. The creators were the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club as they decided to hold a lawn tennis tournament for men’s singles only that 21 amateurs showed up to participate in the London suburbs.
The club was originally centered around croquet, another lawn sport, but the growing popularity of tennis led it to incorporate tennis lawns into their expansive 4 acres of grounds purchased in 1868. The entrance fee of one pound for each participant could earn them the title of Wimbledon champion and a 25-guinea trophy.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Silent Scorekeepers: How Statisticians Became the Backbone of Sports
Could you imagine a baseball game where no one counts strikeouts? Picture watching a
Stefan Botev: The Unforgettable Story of a Weightlifting Phenomenon
One of my favorite weightlifters to watch was Stefan Botev. Botev was born on
History of NBA Team Nicknames: Pacific Division
I love the history of sports team nicknames. Today I am sharing some of
Why is Ralph Hay Considered the Founder of the NFL?
In this episode, we fire up the DeLorean and head back to explore the
The Best Soccer Goalkeepers of the 2000s
The 2000s had a special charm to them. Soccer was becoming a worldwide phenomenon
How Sports Gambling Evolved from Ancient Dice Games to the Digital Age
Wagering on sports has not been happening only nowadays, but it is a thread
Kylian Mbappe’s Rise from Young Gun to Goal Machine
Former Manchester City and French midfielder Samir Nasri was recently very quick to put
120,000 Fans Witness High School Football Game in 1937!!!
Let’s set the stage… It was a warm November afternoon on the Chicago lakefront,