The first sit down

Courtside chairs were introduced for the first time in 1975 to allow players to sit down. This was frowned upon at the time as many said that the players should be fit enough to play without a rest period. Phew !

courtside chairs

Shorty pants !

Olivier Rochus - the shortest player ever at Wimbledon

Rochus Isner

The shortest male player ever to play at Wimbledon is Olivier Rochus (above with John Isner, one of the tallest, and below). At just 5 foot 5 inches(although he optimistically says "5 foot 6 inches"), Rochus always said his ambition was "to be tall".

Olivier Rochus

Boris Becker (b. 1967-) Flag of Germany (Ger) Wimbledon winner 1985/6/9

Won 1985 (bt.Kevin Curran 6-3, 6-7,7-6, 6-4)

Won 1986 (bt.Ivan Lendl 6-4, 6-3, 7-5)

Won 1989 (bt.Stefan Edberg 6-0, 7-6, 6-4)

The youngest Wimbledon mens singles champion, at just 17.

The first German to win Wimbledon.

The first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon singles title.

The first use of yellow balls in 1986.

The first time the mens (and womens) final was played on a Sunday, due to heavy rain, 1989.

The first time somebody swam at the Championships - 1985 !

Boris "boom boom" Becker's was certainly a record breaker in many ways. The "boy" from Germany had a powerful serve and volley style which was ideally suited to the Photo:Boris Becker divingPhoto:Boris Becker divingWimbledon grasscourts, and his natural diving antics at the net were always a crowd pleaser. The big (6 foot 3 inches) red-headed German's game was formidable, unabandoned and aggressive - making him a real crowd pleaser, and an absolute gift for photographers.

Becker still plays today in several exhibition and seniors indoors and outdoors matches, and commentates for major radio and tv networks. He has recently been coach to Novak Djokovic. Outside tennis, Becker has shown himself to be a talented poker player.

                                                          The great flood of 1985

floodrain

Wimbledon swimming pool ! In Becker's first win year, 1985, Wimbledon had the heaviest rain ever. The downpour was so great, with thunder and lightning, that the lower corridors of the spectators area accummulated several feet of water, and a woman actually swam in one of the flooded gangways !