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Vintage Tennis Posters From Wimbledon
POSTED ON: 08 April 2019
POSTED ON: 08 April 2019
2019 is well underway, bringing with it the promise of another stellar year of professional tennis. As always, a good handful of major tournaments are set to take place worldwide. All attracting the world-class talent we’ve come to know and love, along with any number of newcomers looking to make their mark on the game.
Nevertheless, there’s one major tennis tournament that’s once again destined to dominate the pro game this year. That event is, of course, Wimbledon. First held more than 140 years ago, the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament is the most prestigious and celebrated event on the annual calendar. Not to mention, one of the most lucrative – a whopping £34 million in prizes being paid out in 2018 alone.
But what is it about Wimbledon that makes it such a standout among tennis tournaments? Why does no other major event carry the same prestige or grandeur as the summer finals in England?
The answer is perhaps most clearly communicated in a series of iconic tennis posters captured over the years. Images that have immortalised some of the most unforgettable moments in professional tennis – all of which took place on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon.
So if you’ve ever wondered what Wimbledon is all about, it’s all about this…
This perfectly timed shot captures the flamboyant pageantry of a major event at Wimbledon in 1931. Sidney Wood attempts a leaping backhand while looking to fend-off Fred Perry in the semi-finals, adding further drama to an already-dramatic encounter. Wimbledon is famed for driving players to resort to rather extreme manoeuvres to get the job done!
In keeping with the above theme, Fred Perry demonstrated both his athleticism and sportsmanship by leaping the net to shake hands with his opponent after taking home the title. An outstanding image, given the lack of technology in the 1930s and the importance of being in the right place at the right time.
In 1969, Rod Laver enjoyed not only his best ever
A man who was never afraid to speak his mind on or off the court, John McEnroe’s temper was as famous (or perhaps infamous) as his tennis prowess. During his career, he was involved in a series of heated arguments with umpires and officials, which in most instances certainly didn’t come out in his favour. This particular shot was taken in
Another undeniable heavyweight of the game, Bjorn Borg overcame an impressive challenge from John McEnroe to scoop up the men’s title at Wimbledon for a fifth consecutive time in 1980. The ice-cool Swede silenced his opponent to provide yet another indelible moment from the 1980 Wimbledon tournament. One of the most successful pro-tennis players of all time, he took home a total of 63 titles during his career and set countless records that remain unbroken to this day. He’s also recognised as Sweden’s top sportsman of all time, despite retiring at the tender age of just 26.
Last up, there can be few tennis posters that more clearly illustrate the passion and emotion of professional tennis quite like this. After claiming victory over Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon finals, Maria Sharapova of Russia ran into the arms of her father in floods of tears. Sharapova burst onto the scene and quickly rose to superstardom, ultimately becoming one of the most successful female tennis players of all time. Images like this demonstrate how regardless of the blood, sweat and tears it takes, it’s all worth it when it finally pays off.
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