Wimbledon celebrates 100 years of Centre Court

Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court first witnessed play 100 years ago after the Championships, contested since 1877, moved from their original location to meet growing public demand


TIMELINE OF A BRITISH INSTITUTION
1922: Defending Ladies’ champion Suzanne Lenglen (right) of France and Australian Gerald Patterson claim first titles on new Centre Court

1924-29: France’s “Four Musketeers” – René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon – dominate court

1934-36: Britain’s Fred Perry (right) wins three consecutive singles titles

1937: First television coverage by BBC 

1940: Centre Court is bombed during World War II – damage not repaired until 1947

1950s: U.S. teenager Maureen Connolly wins three successive trophies. Althea Gibson of U.S. becomes first black champion

1968: Open Era begins as professional players return to Centre Court action – Australian Rod Laver and American Billie Jean King take titles

1975: Arthur Ashe (right) of U.S. becomes first black player to win men’s singles

1976-80: Swedish heartthrob Bjorn Borg wins five consecutive titles. Britain’s Virginia Wade triumphs in 1977, Queen’s Silver Jubilee year

1980s: Fan favourites John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova are centre stage

1990s: Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf dominate proceedings

2000s: Sisters Venus and Serena Williams become Queens of Centre Court – winning 12 titles between them

2003: Roger Federer wins first of eight trophies 

2008: Rafael Nadal beats Federer in arguably greatest Wimbledon final

2009: Retractable roof used for first time

2012: Centre Court hosts Olympic Games, with Andy Murray and Serena Williams winning singles gold medals

2013: Crowd erupts as Murray becomes first British Wimbledon men’s champion for 77 years

2019: Novak Djokovic beats Federer in longest Wimbledon final – 4 hours, 57 minutes


21ST CENTURY RENOVATION
Completion of retractable roof in 2009 allows play to continue on Centre Court in case of rain


GROUND LAYOUT

No. 1 Court: Capacity: 12,000. Retractable roof installed 2019

Wimbledon Museum

Centre Court 15,000

No.2 Court 4,000

Practice courts

Plaza entrance

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18


Roger Federer and Serena Williams 
Most successful champions of this century


CENTRE COURT LEGENDS: Most Championships (Open Era)

2003-07, 09, 12, 17 	Roger Federer SUI 	8 9 Martina Navratilova USA 1978, 79, 82-87, 90
1993-95, 1997-2000 	Pete Sampras USA 	7 7 Steffi Graf GER 1988, 89, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96
2011, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21 Novak Djokovic SRB 	6 7 Serena Williams USA	2002, 03, 09, 10, 12, 15, 16
1976, 77, 78, 79, 80 	Bjorn Borg SWE 		5 5 Venus Williams USA 2000, 01, 05, 07, 08
1981, 83, 84 		John McEnroe USA 	3 4 Billie Jean King USA 1968, 72, 73, 75
1985, 86, 89		Boris Becker GER 	3 3 Chris Evert USA 1974, 76, 81


Source: AELTC
Pictures: Getty Images
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