The British Open is an annual lawn tennis tournament also known as Wimbledon, or the Wimbledon Championships, named after its location in Wimbledon which is in South-West London, England. It is the oldest and most prestigious event in the sport of tennis and is the third tournament of the Grand Slam in tennis.
The first British Open was held in 1877. It was then called the Lawn Tennis Championships , hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. It had only male amateur participants. In 1884 separate women's singles and men's doubles tournaments were added. By the turn of the century the British Open had become an increasingly popular international tennis tournament.
In 1922 a new tennis complex was built at Church Road for 14,000 spectators, which helped enlarge the popularity and fame of the Championships. It is the only Grand Slam tournament played on grass. The traditional character of the British Open, like the rule for the players to be clothed in white, and for the public to eat strawberries and cream, give it extra flavour. Wimbledon has its own, often criticized, system for seeding players.
The tournament is held in June/July and normally lasts for three weeks. Four rounds precede the quarter finals, succeeded by the semi finals and final round. The British Open holds separate tournaments simultaneously for men (singles), women (singles), men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
There is also a Wimbledon youth tournament.
The main court is called Centre Court. Court 2 bears the nickname The Graveyard.
The Champions Cup (men) and Bowl (women) have been presented for many years by the Duchess of Kent in a never-changing ceremony.
Green and purple are the traditional Wimbledon colours.
Wimbledon Champions since 1877:
2002 Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) vs. David Nalbandian[?] (Argentina)
6:1 6:3 6:2
2001 Goran Ivanisevic (
Croatia) vs.
Patrick Rafter (
Australia)
6:3 3:6 6:3 2:6 9:7
2000 Pete Sampras (
United States) vs. Patrick Rafter (
Australia)
6(10):7(12) 7(7):6(5) 6:4 6:2
1999 Pete Sampras (
United States) vs.
Andre Agassi (
United States)
6:3 6:4 7:5
1998
Pete Sampras (
United States) vs. Goran Ivanisevic (
Croatia)
6:7 7:6 6:4 3:6 6:2
1997
Pete Sampras (
United States) vs.
Cédric Pioline[?] (
France)
6:4 6:2 6:4
1996
Richard Krajicek (
Netherlands) vs.
Malivai Washington[?] (
United States)
6:3 6:4 6:3
1995
Pete Sampras (
United States) vs.
Boris Becker (
Germany)
6:7 6:2 6:4 6:2
1994
Pete Sampras (
United States) vs. Goran Ivanisevic (
Croatia)
7:6 7:6 6:0
1993
Pete Sampras (
United States) vs.
Jim Courier[?] (
United States)
7:6 7:6 3:6 6:3
1992
Andre Agassi (
United States) vs. Goran Ivanisevic (
Croatia)
6:7 6:4 6:4 1:6 6:4
1991
Michael Stich[?] (
Germany) vs. Boris Becker (
Germany)
6:4 7:6 6:4
1990
Stefan Edberg[?] (
Sweden) vs. Boris Becker (
Germany)
6:2 6:2 3:6 3:6 6:4
1989 Boris Becker (
Germany) - Stefan Edberg (
Sweden)
6:0 7:6 6:4
1988 Stefan Edberg (
Sweden) - Boris Becker (
Germany)
4:6 7:6 6:4 6:2
1987
Pat Cash[?] (
Australia) -
Ivan Lendl[?] (
Czechoslovakia)
7:6 6:2 7:5
1986
Boris Becker (
Germany) - Ivan Lendl (
Czechoslovakia)
6:4 6:3 7:5
1985 Boris Becker (
Germany) -
Kevin Curren[?] (
United States)
6:3 6:7 7:6 6:4
1984
John McEnroe[?] (
United States) - Jimmy Connors (
United States)
6:1 6:1 6:2
1983 John McEnroe (
United States) - Chris J. Lewis (
New Zealand)
6:2 6:2 6:2
1982
Jimmy Connors (
United States) - John McEnroe (
United States)
3:6 6:3 6:7 7:6 6:4
1981 John McEnroe (
United States) - Björn Borg (
Sweden)
4:6 7:6 7:6 6:4
1980
Björn Borg (
Sweden) - John McEnroe (
United States)
1:6 7:5 6:3 6:7 8:6
1979 Björn Borg (
Sweden) -
Roscoe Tanner[?] (
United States)
6:7 6:1 3:6 6:3 6:4
1978 Björn Borg (
Sweden) - Jimmy Connors (
United States)
6:2 6:2 6:3
1977 Björn Borg (
Sweden) - Jimmy Connors (
United States)
3:6 6:2 6:1 5:7 6:4
1976 Björn Borg (
Sweden) - Ilye Nastase (
Romania)
6:4 6:2 9:7
1975
Arthur Ashe[?] (
United States) - Jimmy Connors (
United States)
6:1 6:1 5:7 6:4
1974 Jimmy Connors (
United States) - Ken Rosewall (
Australia)
6:1 6:1 6:4
1973
Jan Kodes[?] (
Czechoslovakia) - A. Metreveli (
USSR)
6:1 9:8 6:3
1972
Stan Smith[?] (
United States) - Ilye Nastase (
Romania
4:6 6:3 6:3 4:6 7:5
1971
John Newcombe[?] (
Australia) - Stan Smith (
United States)
6:3 5:7 2:6 6:4 6:4
1970 John Newcombe (
Australia) - Ken Rosewall (
Australia)
5:7 6:3 6:3 3:6 6:1
1969
Rod Laver (
Australia) - John Newcombe (
Australia)
6:4 5:7 6:4 6:4
1968 Rod Laver (
Australia) -
Tony Roche[?] (
Australia)
6:3 6:4 6:2
1967 John Newcombe (
Australia) - W.P. Bungert
6:3 6:1 6:1
1966
Manuel Santana[?] - Dennis Ralston
6:4 11:9 6:4
1965
Roy Emerson[?] -
Fred Stolle[?]
6:2 6:4 6:4
1964 Roy Emerson - Fred Stolle
6:4 12:10 4:6 6:3
1963 C.R. McKinley - Fred Stolle
9:7 6:1 6:4
1962 Rod Laver - M.F. Mulligan
6:2 6:2 6:1
1961 Rod Laver - C.R. McKinley
6:3 6:1 6:4
1960
Neale Fraser[?] - Rod Laver
6:4 3:6 9:7 7:5
1959 A.R. Olmedo - Rod Laver
6:4 6:3 6:4
1958 A.J. Cooper - N.A. Fraser
3:6 6:3 6:4 13:11
1957
Lew Hoad[?] - A.J. Cooper
6:2 6:1 6:2
1956 Lew Hoad - Ken Rosewall (
Australia)
6:2 4:6 7:5 6:4
1955
Tony Trabert[?] - K. Nielsen
6:3 7:5 6:1
1954
Jaroslav Drobny[?] - Ken Rosewall (
Australia)
13:11 4:6 6:2 9:7
1953 E.V. Seixas - K. Nielsen
9:7 6:3 6:4
1952
Frank Sedgman[?] - J. Drobny
4:6 6:2 6:3 6:2
1951 R. Savitt - K. McGregor
6:4 6:4 6:4
1950 J.E. Patty - F.A. Sedgman
6:1 8:10 6:2 6:3
1949 F.R. Schroeder - J. Drobny
3:6 6:0 6:3 4:6 6:4
1948 R. Falkenburg - J.E. Bromwich
7:5 0:6 6:2 3:6 7:5
1947
Jack Kramer[?] - T. Brown
6:1 6:3 6:2
1946 Y.F.M. Petra - G.E. Brown
6:2 6:4 7:9 5:7 6:4
1939
Bobby Riggs[?] bt. E.T. Cooke
1938
Don Budge bt. H.W. Austin
1937
Don Budge bt.
Gottfried von Cramm[?]
1936
Fred Perry[?] bt. Gottfried von Cramm
1935 Fred Perry bt. Gottfried von Cramm
1934 Fred Perry bt. J.H. Crawford
1933 J.H. Crawford bt. H.E. Vines
1932 H.E.Vines bt. H.W. Austin
1931 S.B. Wood bt. F.X. Shields
1930
Ted Tilden[?] bt. W. Allison
1929
Henri Cochet[?] bt. J. Borotra
1928
Rene Lacoste[?] bt. H. Cochet
1927
Henri Cochet[?] bt. J. Borotra
1926
Jean Borotra[?] bt. H. Kinsey
1925
Rene Lacoste[?] bt. J. Borotra
1924
Jean Borotra[?] bt.R. Lacoste
1923
Bill Johnston[?] bt. F.T. Hunter
1922 Gerald Patterson bt. R. Lycett
1921
Bill Tilden[?] bt. B.I.C. Norton
1920 Bill Tilden bt. G.L. Patterson
1919
Gerald Patterson[?] bt. N.E. Brookes
1914 N.E. Brookes bt. A.F. Wilding
1913
Tony Wilding[?] bt. M.E. McLoughlin
1912 A.F. Wilding bt. A.W. Gore
1911 A.F. Wilding bt. H. Roper Barrett
1910 A.F. Wilding bt. A.W. Gore
1909 Arthur Gore bt. M.J.G. Ritchie
1908 Arthur Gore bt. H. Roper Barrett
1907
Norman Brookes[?] bt. A.W. Gore
1906
Laurie Doherty[?] bt. F.L. Riseley
1905 H.L. Doherty bt. N.E. Brookes
1904 H.L. Doherty bt. F.L. Riseley
1903 H.L. Doherty bt. F.L. Riseley
1902 H.L. Doherty bt. A.W. Gore
1901
Arthur Gore[?] bt. R.F. Doherty
1900
Reggie Doherty[?] bt. S.H. Smith
1899 R.F. Doherty bt. A.W. Gore
1898 R.F. Doherty bt. H.L. Doherty
1897 R.F. Doherty bt. H.S. Mahoney
1896
Harold Mahoney[?] bt. W. Baddeley
1895
Wilfred Baddeley[?] bt. W.V. Eaves
1894
Joshua Pim[?] bt. W. Baddeley
1893
Joshua Pim[?] bt. W. Baddeley
1892
Wilfred Baddeley[?] bt. J. Pim
1891
Wilfred Baddeley[?] bt. J. Pim
1890
William Hamilton bt. W. Renshaw
1889
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. E. Renshaw
1888
Ernest Renshaw[?] bt. H.F. Lawford
1887
Herbert Lawford[?] bt. E. Renshaw
1886
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. H.F. Lawford
1885
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. H.F. Lawford
1884
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. H.F. Lawford
1883
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. E. Renshaw
1882
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. E. Renshaw
1881
Willie Renshaw[?] bt. J.T. Hartley
1880
John Hartley[?] bt. H.F. Lawford
1879
John Hartley[?] bt. V. St. L. Goold
1878
Frank Hadow[?] bt. S.W. Gore
1877
Spencer Gore[?] bt. W.C. Marshall
Ladies's Singles
2002 Venus Williams (United States) - Serena Williams (United States)
6(4):7(7) 3:6
2001
Venus Williams (
United States) -
Justine Henin (
Belgium)
6:1 3:6 6:0
2000
Venus Williams (
United States) -
Lindsay Davenport (
United States)
6:3 7(7):6(3)
1999
Lindsay Davenport (
United States) -
Steffi Graf (
Germany)
6:4 7:5
1998
Jana Novotna[?] (
Czech Republic) -
Nathalie Tauziat[?] (
France)
6:4 7:6
1997
Martina Hingis (
Switzerland) -
Jana Novotna[?] (
Czech Republic)
2:6 6:3 6:3
1996
Steffi Graf (
Germany) -
Aranxta Sanchez Vicario[?]
6:3 7:5
1995
Steffi Graf -
Aranxta Sanchez Vicario[?]
4:6 6:1 7:5
1994
Conchita Martinez[?] -
Martina Navratilova
6:4 3:6 6:3
1993
Steffi Graf -
Jana Novotna[?]
7:6 1:6 6:4
1992
Steffi Graf -
Monica Seles[?]
6:2 6:1
1991
Steffi Graf -
Gabriela Sabatini[?]
6:4 3:6 8:6
1990
Martina Navratilova -
Zina Garrison[?]
6:4 6:1
1989
Steffi Graf -
Martina Navratilova
6:2 6:7 6:1
1988
Steffi Graf -
Martina Navratilova
5:7 6:2 6:1
1987
Martina Navratilova -
Steffi Graf
7:5 6:3
1986
Martina Navratilova -
Hana Mandlikova
7:6 6:3
1985
Martina Navratilova -
Chris Evert
4:6 6:3 6:2
1984
Martina Navratilova -
Chris Evert
7:6 6:2
1983
Martina Navratilova -
Andrea Jaeger[?]
6:0 6:3
1982
Martina Navratilova -
Chris Evert
6:1 3:6 6:2
1981
Chris Evert -
Hana Mandlikova
6:2 6:2
1980
Evonne Goolagong Cawley -
Chris Evert
6:1 7:6
1979
Martina Navratilova -
Chris Evert
6:4 6:4
1978
Martina Navratilova -
Chris Evert
2:6 6:4 7:5
1977
Virginia Wade -
Betty Stöve[?]
4:6 6:3 6:1
1976
Chris Evert -
Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6:3 4:6 8:6
1975
Billie Jean King -
Evonne Goolagong Cawley
6:0 6:1
1974
Chris Evert -
Olga Morozova[?]
6:0 6:4
1973
Billie Jean King -
Chris Evert
6:0 7:5
1972
Billie Jean King -
Evonne Goolagong
6:3 6:3
1971
Evonne Goolagong -
Margaret Smith Court
6:4 6:1
1970
Margaret Smith Court -
Billie Jean King
14:12 11:9
1969
Ann Haydon Jones[?] -
Billie Jean King
3:6 6:3 6:2
1968
Billie Jean King -
Judy Dalton Tegart[?]
9:7 7:5
1967
Billie Jean King -
Ann Haydon Jones[?]
6:3 6:4
1966
Billie Jean King -
Maria Bueno[?]
6:3 3:6 6:1
1965
Margaret Smith -
Maria Bueno[?]
6:4 7:5
1964
Maria Bueno[?] -
Margaret Smith
6:4 7:9 6:3
1963
Margaret Smith -
Billie Jean Moffitt
6:3 6:4
1962
Karen Susman[?] -
Vera Sukova[?]
6:4 6:4
1961
Angela Mortimer[?] -
Christine Truman[?]
4:6 6:4 7:5
1960
Maria Bueno[?] -
Sandra Reynolds[?]
8:6 6:0
1959
Maria Bueno[?] -
Darlene Hard[?]
6:4 6:3
1958
Althea Gibson[?] -
Angela Mortimer[?]
8:6 6:2
1957
Althea Gibson[?] -
Darlene Hard[?]
6:3 6:2
1956
Shirley Fry[?] -
Angela Buxton[?]
6:3 6:1
1955
Louise Brough[?] -
Beverly Fleitz[?]
7:5 8:6
1954
Maureen Connolly -
Louise Brough[?]
6:2 7:5
1953
Maureen Connolly -
Doris Hart[?]
8:6 7:5
1952
Maureen Connolly -
Louise Brough[?]
7:5 6:3
1951
Doris Hart[?] -
Shirley Fry[?]
6:1 6:0
1950
Louise Brough[?] -
Margaret Osborne duPont[?]
6:1 3:6 6:1
1949
Louise Brough[?] -
Margaret Osborne duPont[?]
10:8 1:6 10:8
1948
Louise Brough[?] -
Doris Hart[?]
6:3 8:6
1947
Margaret Osborne[?] -
Doris Hart[?]
6:2 6:4
1946
Pauline Betz[?] -
Louise Brough[?]
6:2 6:4
Mens Doubles
Ladies Doubles
Mix Doubles