5 fun and tasty facts about Wimbledon

As the oldest tennis tournament in the world, held annually in London, the Wimbledon Championships has been a British institution since 1877. Yet, despite its rich history and deep-rooted traditions, this iconic event continues to evolve, blending seamlessly into today's modern era. 

It carries immense significance not only in the UK but also in the global sports community. It's a deep-rooted tradition, from being the longest tennis tournament played on grass to the traditional sports attire on show. Wimbledon continues its commitment to excellence and prestige in the world of tennis.

With the annual championships running from June 30 to July 13 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, here's a look at some of the traditions of Wimbledon. 

ROYAL FAMILY ATTENDEES

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, traditionally presents the trophies to the winners of the men's and women's finals, so she is expected to attend the championship.

The Duchess of Gloucester, Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, has been the honorary president of the Lawn Tennis Association for more than 25 years and is a regular at Wimbledon — and is no stranger to stepping onto the courts.

THE WIMBLEDON TOWEL IS MANUFACTURED IN INDIA

The iconic purple and green towels emblazoned with the Wimbledon logo, which reads “The Championships”, are made in India. The towels are 100% cotton soft towels, which increases absorbency and wicks away water quickly. They are a top-selling souvenir and have become a must-have for fans.

DRESS CODE

The dress code, which has been in place since the early 20th century, calls for players to wear “predominantly white” or almost “entirely white”. This rule was introduced when the first tournament began, to hide sweat stains as they were considered improper and unsightly.  

LONGEST MATCH IN TENNIS HISTORY

 The longest match in tennis history was in June 2010, when John Isner and Nicolas Mahut battled for 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. Isner won the set 70-68. The match required 183 games, including 138 in the final set. There is a plaque that commemorates the game on a wall outside Court 18.

YOUNGEST MEN'S WINNER

It took almost 100 years for the youngest boy to win Wimbledon. In 1985, 17-year-old Boris Becker was also the first German and first unseeded player to win.

TRADITIONAL DISH SERVED

Since 1877, strawberries and cream have been part of the championship's tradition. Fans consumed 190,900 servings of strawberries and cream in 2018. 

Another delight served at Wimbledon is Pimm’s. The refreshing gin-based fruit cup has a combination of orange, strawberries, cucumber, apples, lemons and fresh mint. The drink is part of British summer and Wimbledon and the No 1 fruit cup fans love the most.