The 1877 Wimbledon Championship was a men's tennis tournament held at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London. It was the world's first official lawn tennis tournament, and was later recognised as the first Grand Slam tournament or "Major". The AEC & LTC had been founded in July 1868, as the All England Croquet Club. Lawn tennis was introduced in February 1875 to compensate for the waning interest in croquet. In June 1877 the club decided to organise a tennis tournament to pay for the repair of its pony roller, needed to maintain the lawns. A set of rules was drawn up for the tournament, derived from the first standardised rules of tennis issued by the Marylebone Cricket Club in May 1875.
The 1878 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 15 July until 20 July. It was the 2nd staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1878. There were 34 competitors, excluding Spencer Gore who as champion was not required to participate until the best of the challengers had won the All comers' final. The winner of the All Comers' final was Frank Hadow, a planter from Ceylon who was on leave in Britain. He defeated Robert Erskine, a friend of the family who had enticed him to participate in the championship, in straight sets 6–4, 6–4, 6–4. On 18 July 1878 Hadow defeated reigning champion Spencer Gore in three sets, 7–5, 6–1, 9–7 before a crowd of about 700 spectators. Hadow effectively introduced the tactic of lobbing to counter Gore's volleying game.
The 1879 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 7 July until 16 July. It was the 3rd staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1879. The entry for the 1879 all comers' tournament was 45, of whom 36 were newcomers. The all comers' final was watched by 1100 spectators.
The 1881 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 2 to 13 July. It was the 5th edition of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1881. The defending champion John Hartley lost in straight sets in the final to challenger William Renshaw, who defeated Hartley in 37 minutes, 6–0, 6–1, 6–1. The result is said to have been influenced by Hartley suffering from an attack of 'English cholera'.
The 1882 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 8 July until 17 July. It was the 6th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1882. The net was brought down to its present height of 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) at the posts, and 3 feet (0.91 m) in the middle.
The 1884 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 5 July until 19 July. It was the 8th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1884. The men's doubles and women's singles were added to the Wimbledon Championships, but these were not started until after the men's singles competition had been completed. The first prize for the women was valued at twenty guineas, and the second prize was valued at ten guineas There were thirteen female competitors. James Dwight, Arthur Rives and Dick Sears from the United States entered the men's singles event and were the first non-British and overseas players to enter the Wimbledon Championships. The South Western Railway ran special trains to the ground from Waterloo and the temporary Stand A at the Centre Court was converted into a permanent and covered stand.
The 1885 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 4 July until 17 July. It was the 9th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1885. There was a change in the draw method, to use the Bagnall Wild system, in which all byes were restricted to the opening round, instead of being distributed through all the rounds until the final. There were 3500 spectators for the Challenge Round.
The 1886 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 3 July until 17 July. It was the 10th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1886. Henry Jones retired as referee after nine years, and was replaced by Julian Marshall.
The 1887 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 2 July until 7 July. It was the 11th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1887. From 1880 to 1887 the men's singles draw fell from 60 to 16, this was attributed to the superior expertise of the Renshaw brothers and Herbert Lawford. Lawford won the gentleman's singles title after defeating Ernest Renshaw in the All Comers final. Defending champions William Renshaw was unable to play the Challenge Round due to a tennis elbow.
The 1897 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 21 June until 1 July. It was the 21st staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1897. No matches were played on the first Tuesday to mark Queen Victoria's jubilee. Reginald Doherty defeated Harold Mahony in the Challenge Round, and successfully defended his title for the next three years.
The 1900 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 25 June until 4 July. It was the 24th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1900.
The 1904 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 20 June until 29 June. It was the 28th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1904. The entry for the men's singles rose to 62, beating the 1880 record of 60. All ten courts were 'dressed' with a surround of canvas 3 feet (90 cm) high. The balls and equipment were provided by Slazenger.
The 1908 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 22 June until 3 July. It was the 32nd staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1908.
The 1909 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 21 June until 3 July. It was the 33rd staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1909.
The 1910 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 20 June until 30 June. It was the 34th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the second Grand Slam tennis event of 1910.
The 1912 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 24 June until 8 July. It was the 36th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1912.
Herbert Lawford defeated Charles Walder Grinstead 7–5, 2–6, 6–2, 9–7 in the All Comers' Final, but the reigning champion William Renshaw defeated Herbert Lawford 6–0, 6–4, 9–7 in the challenge round to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1884 Wimbledon Championships. James Dwight, Arthur Rives, and Richard Sears were the first overseas players to compete at Wimbledon.
Herbert Lawford defeated Ernest Lewis 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 4–6, 6–4 in the All Comers' Final, but the reigning champion William Renshaw defeated Lawford 6–0, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 in the challenge round to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1886 Wimbledon Championships for a record sixth consecutive year.
Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross was an English sportsman who played both cricket and tennis, the latter of which was more extensive. Ross was a quarter finalist in singles at the 1886 Wimbledon Championships, and a two time semi finalist in men's doubles in 1885 and 1886. He played competitive tennis from 1884 to 1891, and reached fifteen finals, and won seven titles.
Edward "Teddy" Lake Williams was a British tennis player active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a finalist in the men's doubles at the 1884 Wimbledon Championships partnering Ernest Wool Lewis where they lost to William Renshaw and Ernest Renshaw. In singles he was quarter finalist at the Northern Championships, and semi-finalist at the Princes Club Championships in 1883. From 1881 until 1908 he contested 13 career finals and won 6 titles in singles.
John Hartley 