Hardly any sporting event is as traditional as Wimbledon. A look at the rituals that make the oldest Grand Slam tournament so unique.
When Roger Federer returned to Wimbledon for the 100th anniversary of the Center Courts for the 100th anniversary of the Center Court, he said openly in front of the audience: “I miss it to be here.” For Federer – and many others – Wimbledon is more than just a tournament. It is a tradition.
The strict dress code in white, hardly any advertising banners on the square – everything contributes to the special atmosphere of the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, which was founded in 1877.
A look at some of the best -known traditions:
If you think of Wimbledon, you immediately have green lawns and players in mind in white. The dress code of the “All England Club” is strict: players have to wear completely white clothing, various white tones such as cream or off-White are not allowed either.
The origin of this rule lies in Victorian England. At the time, sweat stains were considered inappropriate, and the best covered with white. Wimbledon has retained this tradition to this day. Even Roger Federer, known as the “King of the Grass” with eight Wimbledon titles, violated the dress code in 2013 when he was wearing shoes with bright orange soles. He was told that he should change her before his next game.
Strawberries with cream have been part of Wimbledon since the first tournament in 1877. The snack fits perfectly with the British strawberry season, which coincides with the tournament.
The strawberries are freshly picked every morning and delivered to the All England Club on the same day to ensure the best quality. Around two million pieces are consumed during the two tournament weeks.
No other tennis tournament has held on the human line judges as long as Wimbledon. While other Grand Slam tournaments are now relying on technology, Wimbledon remained loyal to tradition and kept the line judges on the pitch, even as systems such as the “Hawk-Eye” (“Falkenauge”) elsewhere. This electronic system follows the ball with almost perfect accuracy and helps players and referees to make clear decisions immediately.
But now Wimbledon has announced for the first time in his 147-year history that there will be no linesquarters from 2025. The club says it takes the balance between tradition and innovation “very seriously”. The technology is now more precise, and in some matches, wrong decisions have influenced the result. This change was a necessary step forward, even more, according to the reason.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament that is still played on lawn-the original surface of sport. By 1974, all Grand Slam tournaments, with the exception of the French Open, were held in lawns. Due to the high maintenance of lawns, the US Open and Australia Open have switched to hard court.
In 2001 the lawn was converted to 100 % so -called “perennial ryegrass” in Wimbledon to make it more resistant. In 2021, hybrid spaces were used for the first time in the training facility in Raynes Park – 95 % real grass, reinforced by 5 % synthetic fibers.