Wimbledon, England, is home to the tennis grand slam event held annually at its All England Club. The club and town have become synonymous with the sport's signature event, the only grand slam tournament played on grass, and attendance regularly approaches a half-million each year. Officially called the "Lawn Tennis Championships," Wimbledon traditionally begins on a date that changes yearly, but always is six weeks before the first Monday in August.
History
The first competition at Wimbledon took place in 1877 when the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club invited 22 amateurs, all men, to participate in hopes of raising enough money for a new roller. Seven years later, in 1884, the first ladies' singles and men's doubles contests made their debut. May Sutton of the United States became the first American to win at Wimbledon in 1905 and Althea Gibson was the first African-American champion, taking the ladies singles event in 1957. Wimbledon included professionals for the first time in 1968, crowning champions Billie Jean King and Rod Laver. A bomb destroyed part of center court during World War II, but fans and players worked together to restore the grounds before the 1949 championships.
Membership
The All England Club is closed to the public other than spectators. Only club members and players sponsored by the Lawn Tennis Association may use the courts. Gaining membership requires the sponsorship of four existing full members willing to write letters of recommendation, two of whom must have known the applicant for three years or more.
Tickets
Tickets for the Wimbledon Championships are gained by lining up at the club in advance of the event, and fans trying for center, No. 1 and No. 2 court tickets begin doing so the day before, "camping" on the pavements overnight. Ground tickets are more readily available. They allow viewing at courts 3 through 19 and lines usually begin several hours before the event. Ground tickets also afford access to other areas of the grounds.
Extras
The All England Club provides an autograph booth for fans during the championships, located in front of the Aorangi Pavilion as of 2011. You also can visit the grounds at other times during the year through tours offered by the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, opened in 1977 in honor of the club's centennial celebration.
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