IT IS ON FROM TODAY!

Winning isn’t everything--but wanting to win is. There is no denying that the spirit that has been endorsed by Vince Lombardi rings true for every sportsperson. Even though one can see this gut-spilling showing in most major tournaments, they assume a larger-than-life proportion when the mother of all tennis battles gets underway on the last Monday of June.

As the world gets ready to witness a fortnight of top grade competition with the commencement of The Championships, all roads will lead to the famed Wimbledon courts, which not only host the oldest known tennis event but also the most prestigious of all.

Drenched in tradition and history and foremost in terms of discipline, etiquette and drew code, it is England’s biggest legacy to the sport and goes beyond royalty, strawberries and cream. It is the ultimate jewel in its crown.

Bearing the quintessential British touch, Wimbledon features competitions in Men singles and doubles; Women singles and doubles; Mixed doubles; boys singles and doubles and girls singles and doubles.

• In 1927 full seeding was carried out and competitors were selected according to ability, irrespective of nationality.
• Seeding has been based on computer rankings since 1975.
• Since 1927 only two unseeded players have won the Gentlemen’s Singles - Boris Becker in 1985 and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
• No unseeded player has won the Ladies’ Singles.
• Eleven unseeded players have reached the final of the Gentlemen’s Singles and four unseeded players have reached the final of the Ladies’ Singles.
• Today there are 32 seeds in both singles.

Wild cards are usually offered on the basis of past performance at Wimbledon or to increase British interest.

Wild cards have been allocated since 1977 and from 2003 some singles wild cards have been determined by competition. The only wild card to win the Men's Singles title was Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. No wild card has won the Ladies' Singles title.