The Wimbledon Tennis Championship, named for the London suburb in which it is played, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It has been staged annually since 1877 by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. That year, 22 men competed -- women were not allowed to play -- with twenty-seven year old Spencer Gore winning. About 200 people paid to watch.
In 1884 Wimbledon added Ladies Singles and Gentlemen's Doubles. Maud Watson became the first women to win, taking the championship from a field of 13 women. Wimbledon became an international tournament by the beginning of the 20th century.
Wimbledon is held each year for two weeks in late June or early July, culminating with the Gentlemen’s Singles Final on the second Sunday. The tournament is comprised of five main events (Gentlemen's Singles, Ladies' Singles, Gentlemen's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles); four junior events (Boys' Singles, Boys' Doubles, Girls' Singles, and Girls' Doubles); and four invitational events (Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles, Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles, Ladies' Invitation Doubles, and Gentlemen's Wheelchair Doubles).
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam event to be played on grass. The Grand Slam events and the order and months in which they are played are: the Australian Open (January); the French Open (mid-May to early June); Wimbledon; and the U.S. Open (August – September, the weeks before and after Labor Day weekend).
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