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
1980 – The Fourth “World’s Strongest Man Competition”
1980 would mark the fourth annual Worlds Strongest Man Competition. But this year’s event
1979 – The Third “World’s Strongest Man Competition”
So far, we’ve covered the first and second Worlds Strongest Man Competitions. Today we’ll
Remembering the Greatest Individual Defensive Performance in NFL Playoff History
If you were to mention the name of Vernon Perry to a typical pro
How Sports Betting Has Shaped Kansas Sports – A Historical Overview
The world of sports and the realm of video games may seem like disparate
The Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
With a long history of losing and a 1–13 record in 1969, Steelers fans
Looking Back at Manchester United’s Last Premier League Title
Manchester United has won the English Premier League title or equivalent a record 20
The Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
After an embarrassing 54–13 loss to the Vikings in week five and a humiliating
The Future of Sports Betting
Many people still think of betting as something seedy and underground. However, times have