10 cool facts about Wimbledon that you probably didn't know

Novak Djokovic Roger Federer Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer after the 2015 Wimbledon final

Wimbledon is well underway, with Novak Djokovic marching through the draw in his bid to defend his crown. But the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and others will be gunning to stop his march, while a host of unheralded newcomers will be looking to spoil everyone's party.

The Championships are a fan favourite world over and this Major is the most prestigious tennis tournament of them all. But not everything about Wimbledon is all that well-known! Here are 10 things that the fans may not have known about the event:

1. Attendance wasn’t always this good

Wimbledon is now one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, but back in its earliest days saw abysmally low numbers in attendance.

There were only 200 spectators in the first Wimbledon tournament and the tickets were sold for one shilling each in the final match. Those aren't quite 'royal' numbers!

2. Interruptions, interruptions!

Wimbledon has been held without fail since 1877, except for two significant time periods in history.

The first set of missed tournaments happened between 1915 and 1918, and the second between 1940 and 1945 – the progress of the First and Second World Wars, respectively.

The Wimbledon structure was actually used as a shelter during that time period.

3. The Wimbledon towel is manufactured in India!

The iconic purple and green towels emblazoned with the Wimbledon logo, that proudly read ‘The Championships’ across them, are actually made in India. Welspun are the official manufacturers of the plush towels that are used by the best in the game and draped across their chairs during matches.

These towels are brought to you in India by Welspun's Spaces Home & Beyond. To get your own official Wimbledon towel, and win fabulous gifts in the process, visit the Welspun store!

4. Martina Hingis has a special relationship with Wimbledon

Martina Hingis Wimbledon
Martina Hingis with the 1997 Wimbledon trophy

One of the most talented young prodigies in the game, Martina Hingis became the youngest ever winner in Wimbledon history in 1996, when she won the women’s doubles title at 15 years, 282 days old.

She would go on to become the world’s top-ranked player in both singles and doubles by the next year.

Before Hingis, English player Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Dod was the youngest ever winner, at only a week older than Hingis had been, although Dod’s record was set before the Open Era of tennis.

5. The 'ball' game

A total of 54,250 tennis balls are used throughout the tournament. Every 7-9 games the balls are replaced to ensure that they are in pristine condition. Any unused balls are placed in refrigerated containers to maintain their condition.

Wimbledon used white tennis balls earlier but changed them to yellow in 1986 so that the TV cameras could see the ball better.

6. What's with all the curtseying?

Andy Murray Grigor Dimitrov bow Wimbledon
Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov bowing to the Royal Box

Held in the English capital, the home of the British monarchy, Wimbledon has always had strong associations with royalty. Centre Court plays host to the Royal Box, where the King – or in more recent years the Queen – traditionally sits.

Earlier, the players had to curtsey to the Royal Box even if no member of the Royal family was present at the venue. That requirement, however, was thankfully scrapped in 2003; now, the curtsey is mandatory only if the Queen or the Prince of Wales is in attendance.

7. Brexit shaved off the Wimbledon prize money purse too!

If you thought Brexit had no effect on sports, think again. The fall in the currency value of the British pound after the announcement of Britain’s decision to leave the EU has directly impacted the prize money that the winners will take home this year.

The men’s and women’s champion will take home £2 million each this year, and before the Brexit referendum that translated to roughly US$3 million (at approximately US$1.5 to the pound). After Brexit, however, the exchange value fell to US$1.32 to the pound, which meant that the Wimbledon winner’s purse declined to US$2.64 million. That’s a loss of nearly US$360,000!

Maybe the players should have had a special referendum to decide on Brexit.

8. Being a ballkid at Wimbledon is not child's play

The ball boys and ball girls have the toughest jobs in the tournament because they need to have quick reflexes and keep track of the tennis balls. Months before the tournament begins – in February, to be exact – the children start undergoing intensive training so that they are ready to take up this arduous task!

There are four training sessions every week, with each lasting around 2.5 hours and being attended by 50-60 children. A total of 250 ball boys and girls are finally selected for the Championships, and they have quite a tough job on their hands during the fortnight!

9. If you’ve quite finished, we need it back

After the respective finals have concluded and the trophies have been presented, the winning players have to return the silverware they've just captured. The trophies are then put on display at the All England Club’s museum.

Fortunately, the winners do get to take home a replica of the trophy as proof of the pudding. But the real trophies remain safely in a glass case for posterity!

10. Wimbledon has a special kind of security

The tournament sees some high-profile celebrities in attendance, but there’s a very special man named Rufus in charge of security.

Rufus, a Harris Hawk, has been trained especially to deal with London’s pigeon menace. He’s made to fly four hours a day over the grounds to ward off the pigeons!