The History of Wimbledon Tennis Reading Answers

Dec 14, 2025

The answers for "The History of Wimbledon Tennis Reading Answers" include 7 questions and are part of the assessment framework for the IELTS General Reading test. Candidates are allotted 10 minutes to complete the reading responses concerning "The History of Wimbledon Tennis Reading Answers." This portion of the IELTS reading exam consists of various question formats, including Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?

The answers for "The History of Wimbledon Tennis Reading Answers" offer a comprehensive overview of how Wimbledon began in 1877 as a small amateur tennis event and gradually evolved into an international championship, attracting global players, royalty, and massive audiences. Over time, it expanded its facilities, included women, gained worldwide broadcast coverage, and became one of the most prestigious sporting events. For additional practice with similar reading assessments, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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The History of Wimbledon Tennis Reading Answers

It all began with an announcement in the leisure magazine, 'The Field', on 9 June 1877 that "The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, proposes to hold a lawn tennis meeting, open to all amateurs, on Monday July 9th and following days". A total of 22 players stumped up the 1 Pound and 1 Shilling entrance fee, being warned to bring their own rackets and "shoes without heels" but that balls would be provided by the club gardener.

The All England Club had been founded solely for the purpose of croquet in 1869 on four acres of rented meadowland at Worple Road, Wimbledon, but croquet was rapidly overtaken by the new pastime of tennis.

Conditions were primitive. A temporary three-plank stand offered seats for 30 people, the total attendance for the final was 200, the rackets resembled snowshoes in shape and weight and the balls had hand-sewn flannel outer casings.

It wasn't until 1884 that the All England Club agreed to open the Championships up to both sexes and Lottie Dodd, from Cheshire, made her mark on Wimbledon a few years later as youngest woman to win the title at the age of 15. By the 1900s, the Championships at Wimbledon had become an international affair and in

1905 May Sutton from the United States became the first overseas champion when she won the Ladies' Singles title. In 1908, Wimbledon hosted the Olympic tennis tournament at its Worple Road base and in 1922 the Championships moved to its current home on Church Road.

The Championships at Wimbledon have long attracted a royal following and have even seen a royal take to the court. In 1926 the Duke of York, who later became King George VI, competed in the men's doubles. His match formed part of the Jubilee Championships where King George V and Queen Mary presented the commemorative medals. Unfortunately he and his partner lost in straight sets.

Long-standing British favourite Fred Perry grabbed the nation's attention when he won the Championships in three consecutive years from 1936, and until Andy Murray's victory in 2013 he was the last British man to win Wimbledon.

In 1937 live sports coverage was added to the bill and the Wimbledon Championships were broadcast to those within a 40-mile radius of the BBC transmitters in north London.

Today Wimbledon demands huge viewing figures and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors - many of them queuing for days to secure one of the much-coveted Centre Court tickets. Matches take place across several Courts, which include the Centre Court, plus courts 1-19 there is no court 13, which is deemed unlucky.

Questions 8-14

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Write

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

8. Worple Road is the current home of Wimbledon Tennis.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “...in 1922 the Championships moved to its current home on Church Road.”

Keywords: current home, Church Road

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Explanation: The passage clearly states that Wimbledon originally started at Worple Road but later shifted. In 1922, the Championships moved to Church Road, which is identified as the present venue. Therefore, describing Worple Road as the current home contradicts the text.

9. A total of twenty-two men and women participated in the first tournament in 1877.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “A total of 22 players stumped up the 1 Pound… entrance fee…” and only men were allowed until 1884.

Keywords: 22 players, both sexes allowed from 1884

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 3; Paragraph 3, line 1

Explanation: The passage states that 22 players entered in 1877, but women were not permitted to compete until 1884. Therefore, the first tournament did not include both men and women. The statement contradicts the given information.

10. May Sutton from the USA was the first Women's Champion at Wimbledon.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “In 1905 May Sutton… became the first overseas champion when she won the Ladies' Singles title.”

Keywords: first overseas champion

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 3–4

Explanation: May Sutton was the first overseas champion, not the first women’s champion. Women’s championships had already begun in 1884. Thus, the statement is inaccurate.

11. The Olympic Tennis Tournament has been hosted at Wimbledon.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “In 1908, Wimbledon hosted the Olympic tennis tournament…”

Keywords: hosted, Olympic tennis

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 5

Explanation: The passage specifically mentions that Wimbledon was the venue for the Olympic tennis event in 1908. This directly confirms the statement, making it true.

12. The Duke of York lost his match without winning a set.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Unfortunately he and his partner lost in straight sets.”

Keywords: lost in straight sets

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Explanation: Losing in straight sets means the players did not win any set. The passage confirms this outcome for the Duke of York, making the statement accurate.

13. Andy Murray was the last British national to win the Wimbledon Championship.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage only states that before Andy Murray’s win in 2013, Fred Perry was the last British male champion. It does not say whether Andy Murray is the last British winner overall, nor whether someone else won after him. Therefore, the information is not provided.

14. There are 20 courts in all at Wimbledon.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Matches take place across several courts… Centre Court, plus courts 1–19…”

Keywords: courts 1–19, Centre Court

Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, lines 3–4

Explanation: The numbering includes courts 1 through 19 (19 courts), plus Centre Court, totaling 20 courts. The text directly supports this calculation, so the statement is true.

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