Wimbledon: No. 1 Court turns 100

Court 1 is an iconic court at Wimbledon, and here we look at its illustrious history and some of the most famous moments to have happened there.

The 2024 Wimbledon Championship is only a matter of weeks away, with the world class tennis action taking place over the course of 14 days from Monday 1st July to Sunday 14th July 2024.

Some of the best players in the world will be taking to the courts throughout this year’s Championship, and just a few will accomplish the feat of winning their category, which includes Men’s Singles, Ladies’ Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Ladies Doubles amongst others.

Roger Federer has won the most men’s singles titles with no less than 8, which he won in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017. Meanwhile, it is Australia’s Todd Woodbridge who has won the most men’s doubles titles with 9, which he won with Mark Woodforde (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 & 1997) and Jonas Bjorkman (2002, 2003 & 2004).

As for the Ladies’ singles, Martina Navratilova has the most titles in this specific category with 9, which she won in 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and in 1990. Navratilova is also the holder of the record of the most Ladies Doubles titles with 7, which she won with Chris Evert (1976), Billie Jean King (1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984) and with Pam Shriver (1986).

The current Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who was able to beat Novak Djokovic 1 – 6, 7 – 6 (8-6), 6 – 1, 3 – 6, 6 – 4. As for the holder of the Ladies’ Singles title, this is currently held by Marketa Vondrousova after her 6 – 4, 6 – 4 victory against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur back in 2023.

Wesley Koolhof and Great Britain’s Neal Skupski got the better of Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the Gentleman’s Doubles Final, with a 6 – 4, 6 – 4 victory. Finally, a pairing of Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova were able to beat Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens 7 – 5, 6 – 4 in the Ladies’ Doubles Final.

A lot of iconic and incredible moments have happened at the Wimbledon Championships over the years, and in particular Court Number One, which holds the status of being the most iconic and historic courts used over the course of this iconic tournament.

Court Number One is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, with it originally being built and opening in 1924, with it having an initial capacity of approximately 3,250 with roughly 2,500 seats with around 750 standing.

It was architect Captain Charles Stanley Peach who decided to convert the Number One Court to grass in time for the 1924 Championship. And, by the end of the 1920s, there had already been renovation with 700 additional seats being added, as was an electric scoreboard.

Over the years, the iconic Number One Court at Wimbledon has hosted no less than 12 Gentlemen’s doubles finals, 10 mixed doubles finals, and 9 Ladies’ Doubles Finals. The first major Wimbledon Final to be played on this court was the Mixed Doubles Final of 1961.

Then 20 years later, Court 1 was the setting for John McEnroe famously shouting “the ball was on the line”. McEnroe would also go on to be involved in the longest ever Gentlemen’s Doubles Final to date all the way back in 1992, when he alongside Michael Stich were able to beat Jim Grabb and Richey Reneberg 5 – 7, 7 – 6, 3 – 6, 7 – 6 & 19 – 17.

Then, two years later, a new Number 1 Court began construction before being finished and officially opened a few years later in 1997. It was opened by some of the most famous players to have ever graced the Wimbledon Championships over the years, all of whom had won the singles title on at least three occasions.

They were: Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, and finally Pete Sampras. It was a Men’s Singles match between Great Britain’s Tim Henman and Canada’s Daniel Nestor that was the first game to take place at the newly renovated Number One Court.

Plenty more enthralling and incredible action took place on Court One in the Wimbledon Championships that followed, and in 2019 it went under some more renovation when a retractable roof was added to make sure play could continue regardless of the weather conditions on any particular day.

Fast forward to this year’s Championships, more famous moments are set to take place, including at Court One, which has seen so much history and iconic moments play out over the years.

All eyes will be on the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, with some of the best players on the planet competing for the most prestigious singles and doubles prizes in the sport of tennis. The 14 days of action this year will be taking place from Monday 1st to Sunday 14th July 2024.

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