The Baseline Top 10: Wimbledon Facts

1

No one has played more Wimbledon matches than Martina Navratilova—325, over four decades.

2

Event-used balls are sold for just £1 apiece. All proceeds go to a local school’s tennis program; in 2012, 15,000 quid was raised.

3

3

Ladies didn’t begin umpiring Centre Court matches until 1981.

4

It’s common to run into players around town. I’ve eaten breakfast next to Sam Querrey, dinner next to Francesca Schiavone, and watched Dominika Cibulkova briskly jog by.

5

Inscribed on the Challenge Cup, presented to the gentlemen’s singles champion, is: The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World.

6

Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani received silver cufflinks and other gifts for his officiating of the three-day, 11-hour, 183-game match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010.

7

A High Street treat: Stop at The Lawn Bakery, which makes tennis-themed pastries during Wimbledon and jam-filled doughnuts worth the price of airfare.

8

There have been 16 “whitewashes”—a 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 score—most recently in 1987, when Stefan Edberg shut out fellow Swede Stefan Eriksson.

9

Pigeons can be a problem at The Championships, so Wimbledon hired Rufus the hawk to scare them away. He even receives an accreditation badge.

10

Thirteen singles champions saved a match point before winning it all. The most recent was Serena Williams, who did so against Elena Dementieva in the 2009 semifinals.