Why is Wimbledon played on grass?

Wimbledon is finally back in business with many of the world's top players gearing up to do battle on the biggest stage. It is widely considered the most prestigious Grand Slam in tennis and is one of the best-loved events on the British sporting calendar. Thousands of people will flock to SW19 over the next fortnight with millions more watching from the comfort of their homes.

The very first edition was held in 1877, making Wimbledon the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is full of long-standing traditions including the world-famous queue, strawberries and cream and the iconic all-white kit worn by players. Wimbledon is also known around the globe as the only Grand Slam where matches are played on grass courts.

But why is that? Express Sport takes a look...

Why is Wimbledon played on grass?

Grass is the traditional playing surface in tennis, dating back to the origins of the modern game. It was originally known as lawn tennis, which is still used to refer to the sport in formal settings.

In 1872, a group of solicitors and doctors founded a club in Leamington Spa where 'lawn tennis' was used as the name of the activity for the very first time.

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In the past, every Grand Slam tournament was played on grass except for the French Open. The US Open switched to clay in 1975 before moving onto hard courts in 1978, while the Australian Open ditched grass a decade later.

Grass is the quickest surface in tennis, with the ball having a lower bounce as opposed to clay or hard courts. It means that rallies at Wimbledon are generally shorter than other tournaments, presenting a different type of challenge for players.

One caveat of playing on grass is that players are more likely to lose their footing, which can result in injuries. Every year, there are instances of nasty falls and trips which can end badly for those involved.

Back in 2021, a ballgirl on Court Four screamed in agony after slipping on the turf and landing awkwardly. Last year, Gael Monfils accidentally slide-tackled a line judge while attempting to play the ball, resulting in a lengthy stoppage.

Some players do better on grass than others, making them hard to beat at Wimbledon. Roger Federer was a notorious grass-court specialist, while Andy Murray won two of his three Grand Slam titles at SW19.

On the women's side, Martina Navratilova stood head and shoulders above the rest when it came to playing on grass. Serena Williams and Steffi Graf were also known for their proficiency on the traditional surface.

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