WIMBLEDON: Facts, Figures and Fun - Hardcover

Cameron Brown

9781904332220: WIMBLEDON: Facts, Figures and Fun

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1904332226 ISBN 13: 9781904332220

Publisher: FACTS, FIGURES & FUN, 2005

Everyone has heard of Wimbledon, but how many people know that tennis was invented in the 18th century? This elegant little book is packed with facts, figures, records, statistics and fun! it covers the history of the game and the development of modern championships. There are anecdotes and information about many of the great names since the championships began. This is a true little gem for any fan of tennis or Wimbledon

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Synopsis:

Everyone has heard of Wimbledon but how many people know that the game of lawn tennis was invented in the late 19th Century and was at first called Sphairistike? This elegant little book, written by publisher Cameron Brown, a resident of Wimbledon since 1970, is packed with facts, figures, records and statistics, and it's fun! It covers the history of the game, starting out with handball in the French monasteries of the middle ages, moving on to Real (or Royal) Tennis at the court of Henry VIII, to the modern game patented in1874 by Major Wingfield. The book also describes the history of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon's proper name) and the development of the modern championships. There are anecdotes and information about many of the great names of the 125 years or so since the championships began and, finally, a bit of backgound on the "village" of Wimbledon where it all happens for 2 weeks a year. A great gift for any tennis fan. Henry VIII had a servant to throw the ball up in the air for him because he was too fat to do it himself.

There is an entry in Hampton Court's accounts in 1531 recording the payment of five shillings (45 cents) to "one that served on the King's side at Tennes", hence the word "service". The US Lawn Tennis Association was formed in 1881 but the first US championships were held the previous year at the Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club. The first National Championship, precursor to today's US Open , was held in 1881. Until 1974 it was played on grass, switching then to clay courts, changing again in 1978 to hard court. Jimmy Connors won on all 3 surfaces. "The Gullikson twins here. An interesting pair, both from Wisconsin." - Dan Maskell "She comes from a tennis-playing family. Her father's a dentist." - BBC 2 "McEnroe has got to sit down and work out where he stands" - Fred Perry

From the Back Cover:

Wimbledon Facts, Figures & Fun is packed with statistics and anecdotes to fascinate and amuse every tennis fan, whether or not they can get a ticket for Wimbledon. Perfect material for a sports-based quiz or just a quiet read in the smallest room in the house!

"A great source of information for all tennis fans..." (the writer’s mother)
"Really good value ..." (the writer’s bank-manager)
"I don’t see the point of tennis..." (the writer’s wife)

All royalties from sales of this book go to The Wimbledon Society Museum

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