wimbledon factfile
Each year, the patrons of Wimbledon gulp down an estimated 62,000 pounds of strawberries and 1,540 gallons of cream. How they will be affected by the current shortage of strawberry pickers remains unclear.
This year, for the first time, the prize money for the winners of the men's and ladies' singles tournaments is equal, at £655,000. The total prize fund is £11,282,710.
When Rod Laver became the first men's champion in the Open era in 1968, he picked up a cheque for £2,000. Ladies' champion Billie-Jean King won £750.
William Renshaw and Pete Sampras hold the record for the most wins in the men's singles, with seven. Renshaw won six of his titles in successive years.
Martina Navratilova has won the ladies' singles a record nine times, winning six years in a row between 1982 and 1987.
Chris Evert holds the record for the most Wimbledon final defeats. Of her seven runners-up cheques, six came after defeats to Navratilova. She also won the title three times.
The tie-break was introduced at Wimbledon in 1971, six years after it was invented and two years after Wimbledon's longest match, when Pancho Gonzales beat Charlie Pasarell 22-24 1-6 16-14 6-3 11-9.
Centre Court will have a retractable roof in time for the 2009 Championships, ensuring play can continue in wet weather and sparing spectators from any repeat of that Cliff Richard incident.
The current capacity of Centre Court is 13,813, while the new number one Court seats 11,429.
The last British winners of the Wimbledon singles titles were Fred Perry, in 1936, and Virginia Wade in 1977.
The first championship, held in 1877, was a men's singles event. The women's and men's doubles events followed seven years later.
The All England Club moved to its current home in Church Road in 1922.
The navy blue and cream uniforms worn by the ball boys and girls are made by the American designer Ralph Lauren.
The inscription on men's trophy, awarded since 1887, reads: "The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Champion of the World."
Roger Federer last lost at Wimbledon on June 24 2002, in a first-round match against Mario Ancic. He lost in straight sets, but has won 28 matches since.
Goran Ivanisevic (2001) remains the only wildcard entrant ever to win Wimbledon. Ivanisevic lost in the finals of 1992 and 1994.
Venus Williams was the lowest-seeded women's champion in 2005, when she was the 14th seed. She is seeded 24 this year.
Between them, Roger Federer (4) and Pete Sampras (7) have won 11 of the last 14 singles titles. Richard Krajicek, Goran Ivanisevic and Lleyton Hewitt are the other winners in that time.
The 'middle Sunday', traditionally a rest day, has been used three times, in 1991, 1997 and 2004 due to rain.
There have only been five years with no rain, most recently 1995.
Each year around 42,000 tennis balls are used at the Championships.
Yellow balls were introduced in 1986 - replacing white - as they are more visible to TV cameras.
Croatia's Ivo Karlovic is the tallest player ever to play at Wimbledon. He's 6ft 10in.
Jennifer Capriati, then 14, became the youngest player to win a match at Wimbledon in 1990.
Over the Wimbledon fortnight, there are 687 matches in total.
