Wimbledon is one of the four tennis Grand Slam tennis tournaments of the year. The famous competition takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club every summer. The London event is highly regarded as the best Grand Slam and visiting the All England Club should be on every tennis fan’s bucket list.
Wimbledon the Most Prestigious Grand Slam
Over the course of the tennis season, there are four Grand Slam events. The Australian Open at Melbourne Park kicks things off before the French Open takes place in Paris a few months later. Then comes Wimbledon in the summer, and the US Open ends the Grand Slam year in August and September. With so many other tennis tournaments taking place throughout the season, you can bet on tennis all year round. Odds are available well in advance, with several markets to choose from. For instance, you can bet on the French Open right now. In-form Novak Djokovic is the favourite at 7/4, while Rafael Nadal is currently available at 5/2.
🌈#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/wlDVUSDdKr
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2023
Betting on Wimbledon has grown in popularity over the years. Whether backing a home favourite or one of the big hitters, there is a great deal of money thrown around in the betting circuit each year.
The prize money for this year’s Wimbledon is also enormous. The participating players will compete for £40m, which is up £5m from 2021. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam to be played on grass. Due to the speed of the game, the matches are thrilling and fast-paced, which adds even more excitement to the showpiece event.
Oldest Tennis Tournament in the World
Wimbledon has been around for years, with the first-ever championship taking place way back in 1877. Of course, the venue has undergone numerous changes over the years, but Wimbledon has never lost its tradition and charm.
The 2023 edition will be the 136th running of the championship. The competition has been held annually for 146 years, apart from a few cancellations due to world events. Since 2019, there have been retractable roofs, which has certainly helped with the unpredictable British weather.
Memorable Wimbledon Moments
Over the years, Wimbledon has thrown up various memorable moments. In 2010, we saw an incredible 70-68 set between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut. The pair slugged it out for 11 hours over three days, with the final set taking eight hours and 11 minutes to complete.
Andy Murray ended Britain’s long wait for a British winner when he prevailed in the 2013 tournament. The Scot ended the 77-year wait with victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. Murray was at it again three years on, this time beating Milos Raonic to win his second Wimbledon title crown.
🎢#AusOpen | @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/tAg5rruJn1
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) January 19, 2023
The 2001 men’s event was also one to remember, as wildcard entry Goran Ivanisevic stunned Wimbledon by going all the way. He was ranked 125th in the world, but Ivanisevic got the job done, even beating home favourite Tim Henman along the way.
Every year, the fans that flock to SW19 are treated to something special. Wimbledon really is the place to be for tennis enthusiasts, and experiencing the magic live is a joy to behold.