The oldest tennis tournament still played is Wimbledon, officially known as The Championships. It began in 1877 in London, when lawn tennis was a new sport and the first event featured only a men’s singles draw.
Wimbledon is also the oldest of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Its long history is a big part of its appeal, but the event has changed dramatically since its first final: women’s singles, international stars, covered courts and modern equipment were all still in the future.
Why Wimbledon is called the oldest tennis tournament
The first Wimbledon Championships took place from July 9 to 16, 1877, at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Worple Road, southwest London. The club had added lawn tennis to its activities a couple of years earlier. Holding a tournament helped raise money to repair a roller used to maintain the club’s grass courts.
That first competition was a men’s singles event with 22 players. Spencer Gore won the final, beating William Marshall 6–1, 6–2, 6–4. Around 200 spectators watched the match. By today’s standards, that sounds modest; Wimbledon now welcomes hundreds of thousands of people during the Championships.
Wimbledon is often described as the oldest tennis tournament because it was the first major organized competition in lawn tennis and it remains active today. Tennis and racket sports have much older roots, but they are not the same as the modern lawn-tennis tournament that began in 1877.
How Wimbledon grew from one event into a Grand Slam
The original Championships were far smaller than the tournament tennis fans know today. In 1884, Wimbledon added women’s singles and men’s doubles. Women’s doubles and mixed doubles followed in 1913. The event moved to its current Church Road site in 1922, as the growing crowds needed more space.
Wimbledon has not been played every single year since its start. The Championships were cancelled during the First and Second World Wars, and again in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with those breaks, it is the longest-running major tournament in tennis.
| Tournament | First held | What the date means |
|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 1877 | Oldest active tennis tournament and oldest Grand Slam |
| US Open | 1881 | First held as a men’s national singles championship |
| French Championships | 1891 | First held as a national competition in France |
| Australian Championships | 1905 | Predecessor of today’s Australian Open |
These early events did not all start in their current form. The French tournament, for example, was initially limited to players who were members of French clubs. The table compares their first editions, not necessarily the start of each tournament’s modern international format.
What the first Wimbledon was like
The 1877 Championships were played on grass, as Wimbledon still is. But the equipment, court setup and style of play were very different. Players used wooden rackets, and the rules and court dimensions were not yet fully standardized. Lawn tennis itself had only recently become popular, building on older racket games and the rules developed in the 1870s.
The first champion, Spencer Gore, was known for attacking play and coming forward to hit volleys. That approach made sense on grass: a well-placed shot could stay low, putting pressure on an opponent who had little time to set up. It is a useful reminder that grass has long rewarded quick decisions, though modern rackets and training have made the game far more powerful.
Today’s Wimbledon players still have to adjust to the surface. Grass generally produces a lower, quicker bounce than clay, so a strong serve and an early strike can be especially useful. But it is not just a serve-and-volley contest anymore. Players such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have shown how effective a blend of aggressive serving, precise baseline hitting and quick movement can be on grass.
Is Wimbledon the oldest tennis tournament in the world?
For modern lawn tennis, Wimbledon is generally recognized as the oldest tournament still held. The key phrase is “modern lawn tennis.” Racket games existed centuries earlier, but they had different rules, courts and equipment. If someone asks for the oldest tennis tournament, Wimbledon is the clearest answer; if they mean the oldest racket-sport competition of any kind, the history gets more complicated.
Wimbledon’s age also does not mean the tournament has stayed unchanged. The venue, draw sizes, technology and rules have evolved. The familiar grass courts and long-standing traditions connect the event to its beginnings, while the level of play reflects more than a century of change in tennis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first tennis tournament?
The first major organized lawn-tennis tournament was Wimbledon in 1877. Its first edition was a men’s singles competition, won by Spencer Gore.
Is Wimbledon older than the US Open and French Open?
Yes. Wimbledon began in 1877, before the US Open’s predecessor in 1881 and the French Championships in 1891. The Australian Championships began in 1905.
Has Wimbledon been held every year since 1877?
No. It was cancelled during both world wars and in 2020. It is still the oldest active tennis tournament, despite those interruptions.
Where was the first Wimbledon held?
The first Championships were held at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club’s original grounds on Worple Road in Wimbledon, London. The tournament moved to its current Church Road location in 1922.
Final Thoughts
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament still played, with its first Championships held in 1877. It started as a small men’s singles event and grew into one of sport’s biggest annual competitions. Knowing that history adds context when you watch today’s matches: the grass, the attacking instincts and the challenge of adapting to a fast surface all link modern tennis to the tournament’s earliest days.
