NOW that Wimbledon is in full swing, we wanted to take a look at tennis in Cumbria.
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is widely regarded as the most prestigious.
It has been held in London since 1877 and is played on outdoor grass courts, the two main courts have had retractable roofs since 2019.
Wimbledon is one of four major Grand Slam tournaments the others being the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open.
The tournament is the only major to still be played on grass, which the the traditional tennis playing surface.
Unlike other Grand Slams, it retains a night time curfew meaning that matches can continue until 11pm under the lights.
The tournament runs over two weeks, usually starting in late June and ending in July. It culminates in the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Singles Final which are scheduled for the Saturday and Sunday at the end of the second week.
All competitors must adhere to a strict white dress code with strawberries and cream often being eaten by spectators. Nowadays many people also enjoy a glass of champagne whilst watching the tournament.
Unlike other tournaments, advertising is minimal and low-key from official sponsors like Slazenger and Rolex. The relationship that Wimbledon has with Slazenger is the longest running sports partnership, as they have been supplying balls to the tournament since 1902.
In 2020 the tournament was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, which was the first cancellation since World War II. The 2024 Wimbledon Championship will be the 137th staging.
These photos show just how much people love tennis here in Cumbria. We hope that they bring back some very fond memories for some of you.
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