‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster/and treat those two imposters just the same’ These famous lines by Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” is inscribed above the double doors in which the players pass through to get to Centre court at Wimbledon. Wimbledon is the oldest, and arguably the most prestigious, tennis tournament in the world. It is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, and the only one still played on rye grass courts, which gave the game of lawn tennis its name.

Wimbledon has been held at The All England Club since 1877. The club was first located off Worple Road in Wimbledon, a suburb of London. The first tournament only had one event: Gentlemen’s Singles. About 200 spectators came to watch the final, which was won by Spencer Gore from a field of twenty-two.

Since then, The All England Club has moved to its current location at Church Street. Gentlemen’s Singles portion of the tournament now consists of 128 players. Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Doubles have been added with Ladies’ Singles. Mixed Doubles has also found its place in the tournament to complete the main events. Chimbledon, Children’s Wimbledon, has also been added with Boy’s Singles and Doubles and Girl’s Singles and Doubles for its events. Gentlemen’s Invitation and Wheelchair Doubles, Senior Gentlemen’s Invitation Doubles, and Ladies’ Invitation and Wheelchair Doubles make up the Invitational events. A new retractable roof was added to the building, so the tournament would not have to be stalled, in time for the 2009 Championship. There are 19 courts that are used for Wimbledon, although Centre Court and No. 1 Court are usually used only for the two-week timespan of the championships, but will also be used for the tennis events during the 2012 Olympics.

Even though there have been many changes to the tournament and The All England Club, Wimbledon is still about showing your love for the sport of tennis, whether you are playing or watching, and this year was no exception. There were many exciting moments and matches this year. One of the most exciting matches this year was the record-breaking match between American John Inser and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. The match spanned three days and was eleven hours and five minutes long. There were 183 total games played, and the match set the record for most games played in a set, 138 in the fifth. The match also set the record for most aces in a match, 216, Isner with 113, breaking the record for most aces by one individual during one match, and Mahut with 103. Isner wound up winning the match and moving on to the next round.

Another record was set by Serena Williams, the champion of the Ladies’ Singles portion of the tournament. Serena hit her eighty-ninth ace in her championship match, her fastest for the match clocked in at 122 mph! In just sixty-nine minutes, Serena was able to secure her fourth championship title at Wimbledon. She was playing against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, who told Serena after the match “You are a great player and also a great champion. You really deserved to win today.” At the moment of her victory, Serena hurled her racket into the air, gave a bow, and raised both of her clenched fists victoriously as the reigning champion.

For this year’s Gentlemen’s Singles, with Roger Federer, the defending champion of Gentlemen’s Singles out of the tournament, Rafael Nadel made simple work of achieving victory over Tomas Berdych. Nadel, winning the match in two hours and thirteen minutes, now has eight Grand Slam titles. Both men are hard hitting and exceptional tennis players, but it was Nadel’s formidable forehand that gave him control of the court and a win over the six-foot five-inch Berdych. At the moment of his victory, Nadel executed a celebratory foreword roll.

With this year’s tournament completed, fans are now anxiously awaiting next year’s tournament, excited to find answers to their questions. Will Serena Williams go on and win her fifth championship title? Will Federer make his comeback? What exciting matches will take place? We will just have to wait patiently, and watch Wimbledon next year. I am sure we will not be disappointed.