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 1883 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 7 July until 16 July. It was the 7th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1883. William Renshaw won for the third year running, and so won the original Field championship cup outright. The players changed ends at the end of each set, or at the end of each game.
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 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 1888 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 9 July until 16 July. It was the 12th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1888.
The 1889 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 1 July until 13 July. It was the 13th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1889. William Renshaw won his seventh singles title, which as late as 1977 was thought to be a feat unlikely to ever be surpassed. However, in 2000 Pete Sampras equaled this total, and in 2012 Roger Federer also won a seventh title. Ultimately the record was broken by Federer in 2017 when he became the first man to win eight singles titles at Wimbledon. The Renshaw brothers were also unbeaten in doubles for seven years. The men's doubles were played after completion of the singles competitions.
The 1890 Wimbledon Championships was a combined men's and women's 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 30 June until 7 July. It was the 14th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1890. Bonham Carter Evelegh took over as referee from Julian Marshall. The rule for change-overs was altered to after every odd game. There were 30 competitors for the men's singles and only four competitors for the women's singles, the smallest entry ever for any competition at Wimbledon. The final of the women's singles competition, which started on 2 July, was played on 5 July, while the men's singles final was played on 7 July and the men's doubles were played on 21–23 July.
The 1891 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 29 June until 9 July. It was the 15th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1891. There were 22 competitors for the men's singles. Wilfred Baddeley was 19 years, 5 months and 23 days old when he won the men's singles final on 4 July. The ladies' singles and men's doubles were held after the men's singles had been completed.
The 1892 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 27 June until 7 July. It was the 16th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1892. From this year, all events were played concurrently.
The 1893 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 10 July until 20 July. It was the 17th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1893.
The 1894 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 9 July until 18 July. It was the 18th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1894.
The 1896 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 13 July until 21 July. It was the 20th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1896. The number of entries for the men's singles competition was 31, the highest since 1881. Harold Mahony and Charlotte Cooper won the singles titles. The All England Plate was introduced for players who had lost in the first or second round of the singles.
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 1901 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 3 July. It was the 25th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1901. There was a record entry of thirty competitors in the women's singles.
The 1903 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 1 July. It was the 27th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1903.
The 1905 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that 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 26 June until 8 July. It was the 29th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1905. May Sutton was the first overseas winner of a Wimbledon championship. There were 71 entries into the men's singles draw setting a new participation record for the event.
The 1906 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 5 July. It was the 30th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1906.
The 1911 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 26 June until 8 July. It was the 35th staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1911.
William Renshaw