AS Wimbledon gets into full swing, it’s incredible to think that the tournament has been running since 1877 – with a gentlemen’s singles match on the 9th July.
Since then, the oldest tennis tournament in the world has gained global fame and continues to grip audiences – at the venue, on screens and on the radio.
On the 7th July 1935, 82 years ago, the Sunday Post reported on the triumph of ‘tennis queen’ Helen Wills Moody. This was her seventh win.
Over her career, the American tennis player won the women’s singles at Wimbledon an incredible eight times. This record was not broken until 1990, when Martina Navratilova won her ninth title.
Appearing modest after her win Helen said: “I never ought to have won”.
The article also states that the crowd of spectators were mainly women and gave Helen a ‘tumultuous ovation’ as she left the court.
Alarmingly, the article also states there were ‘many cases of fainting’, partly because of ‘intense heat’, and party due to ‘excitement’.
‘Tennis made me have a go at everything’: Sue Barker answers our 10 questions
Mr SW19 John Barrett looks back over the BBC’s 90 years of Wimbledon memories
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe