Wimbledon Tennis Championships

The Wimbledon tournament is one of the oldest and probably the most prestigious tennis events in the world. Since 1877, the All England Club in Wimbledon, London, has hosted the event. Only 22 men took part in the first Championship, which was mainly an amateur competition, called Gentlemen's Singles, and in the end it was won by Spencer Gore. Wimbledon is the only one that is played on traditional grass courts, while the others are played on hard surfaces and clay. The event takes place over the course of two weeks and according to tradition, all competitors must be dressed in suitable clothing, almost entirely white. The consumption of strawberries and cream by the spectators and also the royal patronage is part of the rich heritage of the tournament. The tournament is also distinguished by the absence of advertising by sponsors on the playing fields. In 2009, the Centre Court in Wimbledon was equipped with a retractable roof to avoid wasting time due to rain. The prize money in 2015 was £26,750,000.