Back in 1877, The All England Croquet Club decided to introduce the game of lawn tennis to its members, and included it in its name, becoming the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. To celebrate, they held a mens singles tournaments in June of that year, and have been done so ever since. At 138 it is the oldest Grand Slam in tennis, with the US Open being founded in 1881, the French Open in 1891, and the Australian Open in 1905, although they didnt all become Majors until the 1920s. It is also the only Grand Slam still played on grass, which is of course the original surface of the game (lawn tennis). The US Open changed its surface back in 1974, using clay for a couple of years before deciding on the hard court it still uses today, while the Australian Open was a grass court tournament until 1987, after which it became a hard court.
NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far.
A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.
