First Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Initiation on July 9, 1877
In the picturesque town of Wimbledon, London, the oldest tennis championship in the world was born on the 9th of July, 1877. The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club played host to the inaugural event, where around 200 spectators gathered to witness history being made.
Initially, the championships were strictly amateur, with participants competing for trophies and honors, not cash. This tradition continued until 1967. The Open Era, which began in 1968, marked a significant shift. Professional players were now allowed to compete, and prize money was introduced for the first time.
Spencer Gore, a 27-year-old Old Harrovian and ex-Surrey country cricketer, claimed the first championship by defeating William Marshall. The victory was achieved with scores of 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. The prize for the winner in that year was a modest £12, equivalent to around £1,300 in today's money.
Fast forward to 2025, the total prize money reached an impressive £53,550,000. This substantial increase reflects tennis's growing global popularity, revenue, and sponsorship. The 2025 total prize pool is a testament to the scale of current financial profits associated with the event.
Interestingly, Wimbledon was the last Grand Slam tournament to award equal prize money to men and women, a milestone that was achieved in 2007, following advocacy by players like Venus Williams.
The championships have grown significantly over the years, with more than half a million fans expected to attend this year's event. During the fortnight of the championships, nearly 200,000 portions of strawberries are consumed, more than 276,000 glasses of Pimms are served, and over 18,000 servings of fish and chips are enjoyed by spectators.
The financial surplus from the championships has also grown significantly over the years. In 1879, the first year for which figures are available, there was a surplus of £116. In 2013, the surplus reached a staggering £35,107,812, with 90% of it being handed over to the Lawn Tennis Association for the development of British tennis.
The Wimbledon Championships have indeed come a long way since its inception in 1877. From a modest start with a shilling entrance fee for spectators, the championships have evolved into a global spectacle with a prize fund of £3 million for each of the men's and women's singles winners.
[1] "Wimbledon Championships: A History of Prize Money." BBC Sport, BBC, 2 July 2021, www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57714158.
[2] "The History of Wimbledon." Wimbledon.com, The All England Lawn Tennis Club, www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/history/the-history-of-wimbledon.html.
[3] "Wimbledon Prize Money: How Much Do Players Get?" BBC Sport, BBC, 2 July 2021, www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57714158.
The Wimbledon Championships, rooted in tennis, has seen a drastic increase in prize money over the years, with an impressive £53,550,000 awarded in 2025 alone, demonstrating the sport's growing global popularity and revenue.
Contemporary Wimbledon champions receive a significant financial reward of £3 million for each of the men's and women's singles titles, a far cry from the modest £12 won by Spencer Gore in 1877.
