1877 Wimbledon Championship
Encyclopedia
The inaugural Wimbledon Championships was a tennis
tournament that took place between 22 competitors. The tournament was held at the All England Club
and the final was held in front of 200 people. The spectators paid one shilling each. The prize money for the event was 12 guineas
, plus a silver challenge cup valued at 25 guineas
.
The tournament began on July 9, 1877, but due to the scheduling after the Semifinals had concluded on July 12 play was to be suspended until July 16 due to the Eton and Harrow cricket match at Lord's
. The final was further postponed from Monday July 16 at 4 p.m. to Thursday July 19 at 3:30 p.m. because of rain. It was still showery, so the final began an hour late, at 4:30 p.m. The match lasted 48 minutes (15+13+20 minutes for the three sets) and the volleyer had beaten the baseliner, at a time when volleying was considered by some to be unsporting. The players served underarm or at shoulder height, and the first to win six games won the set, except for the final, when a lead of two games in each set was necessary.
Spencer Gore defeated William Marshall, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
William Marshall defeated C. G. Heathcote
6–4, 6–4
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament that took place between 22 competitors. The tournament was held at the All England Club
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club , also known as the All-England Club, based at Aorangi Park, Wimbledon, London, England, is a private members club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass...
and the final was held in front of 200 people. The spectators paid one shilling each. The prize money for the event was 12 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
, plus a silver challenge cup valued at 25 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
.
The tournament began on July 9, 1877, but due to the scheduling after the Semifinals had concluded on July 12 play was to be suspended until July 16 due to the Eton and Harrow cricket match at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
. The final was further postponed from Monday July 16 at 4 p.m. to Thursday July 19 at 3:30 p.m. because of rain. It was still showery, so the final began an hour late, at 4:30 p.m. The match lasted 48 minutes (15+13+20 minutes for the three sets) and the volleyer had beaten the baseliner, at a time when volleying was considered by some to be unsporting. The players served underarm or at shoulder height, and the first to win six games won the set, except for the final, when a lead of two games in each set was necessary.
Final
Spencer Gore defeated William Marshall, 6–1, 6–2, 6–4
- It was Gore's first and only Major.
Second place match
William Marshall defeated C. G. HeathcoteCharles Gilbert Heathcote
Charles Gilbert Heathcote was an English barrister, tennis player and amateur painter. He was one of the founders of the All England Club, and played in the first Wimbledon Championships in 1877...
6–4, 6–4