Monday marks the first day of the 129th annual Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, in London, England.
With the grand prize of being a Grand Slam champion and obtaining 1,880,000 Pounds (approximately 2,465,400 U.S. Dollars), the best tennis players from around the world come to compete for the high honor.
Related: Stefan Edberg on Federer, Wimbledon 2015
Serena Williams, one of tennis greatest female players to ever live, currently has 20 Grand Slam titles under her belt, with the most recent being from the 2015 French Open in early June. Only two championships away from Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slams won, Williams will have to battle against renowned players; Lucie Sararova, Maria Sharapova, and most recent winner, Petra Kvitova, for her 21st win.
As the oldest tennis tournament in the world, the most prestigious names in the game have won the title; such as, Roger Federer, Billie Jean King, Andre Agassi, Serena and Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Arthur Ashe, and more.
First played in 1887, The Wimbledon Tennis Tournament has been held at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in the London suburbs of Wimbledon. The venue is the only Grand Slam tournament with a grass court. The thin surface of grass causes balls to bounce lower, making the return stroke more difficult for players.
Wimbledon is the third Grand Slam tournament of the year, following the French and Australian Open, and preceding the US Open in Flushing, Queens.
The last time a British person won the Wimbledon tournament was in 1977.
