Each summer, the world’s best tennis players gather at the All England Club to compete on grass at one of the most respected events in sports—Wimbledon. While everyone watches the amazing shots, fast volleys, and long matches, not many people realize how unusual and traditional this famous Grand Slam really is.
Here are five surprising Wimbledon facts that even the biggest tennis fans might not know:
1. A Hawk Named Rufus Soars Over the Courts
Yes, you read that correctly. Wimbledon uses an actual hawk, named Rufus, to fly over the courts every morning and keep pigeons away.
Pigeons might look harmless, but they’ve been known to interrupt games and even bother players during their serves. Rufus is trained to fly over Centre Court and the area around it, making sure birds don’t mess with the day’s matches. He’s so beloved that he has his own Twitter account (@RufusTheHawk), and when he was once stolen, it was big news around the world.
2. Players Once Showed Respect to the Royal Box
Wimbledon is all about British tradition, and what’s more traditional than its ties to the royal family? Until 2003, players had to bow or curtsy to the Royal Box on Centre Court whenever a member of the royal family was watching.
Okay, here are those texts rewritten with a more natural, human feel:
So, this particular custom was actually stopped because the Duke of Kent, who had been the tournament’s president for ages, asked for it to be. He felt it was a bit old-fashioned. However, there’s an exception: if the King or Queen happens to be there, the old rule still holds. It really shows you how important respect and tradition still are at Wimbledon.
3. Yep, They Still Use a Manual Scoreboard
Even though we live in an age of super high-tech digital screens and instant stats, Wimbledon definitely keeps one foot planted firmly in the past. On Centre Court and Court No. 1, you’ll still find a manual scoreboard that gets updated by hand, running alongside the electronic one.
Special staff members physically flip the cards to show the scores – it’s a lovely little touch that really adds to the tournament’s classic feel. It’s one of the few places left in professional sports where old-school analog meets top-tier competition.
4. The Grass Is Treated Like Sacred Ground
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam that still uses real grass courts, and keeping that surface in perfect condition is both a science and an art.
The grounds crew uses high-tech equipment to mimic how players run and hit on the courts and to check how thick the grass is. They mow the grass super carefully so it’s exactly 8 mm high all over, and they specifically use 100% perennial ryegrass because it’s tough and bounces the ball consistently. Every day, both before and during the tournament, they check the moisture, firmness, and even how slippery the surface is to make sure it’s just right for playing on.
It’s not just grass that grows there; it’s essentially engineered for perfection.
5. Ball Kids Train Like Elite Athletes
Those super speedy and always-alert ball boys and girls don’t just get picked off the street. Each year, hundreds of hopefuls apply, but only the most dedicated ones make the cut.
Chosen from local schools, these teenagers go through months of physical training, learning the rules, and practicing drills. They learn everything—from how to stand and how to roll the balls properly to how to stay calm under pressure. During the tournament, they practice every day before the gates open, and their performance is always being watched.
Even at Wimbledon, ball kids are expected to perform like professionals.
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Wimbledon might be the world’s oldest tennis tournament, but it keeps balancing tradition with top-notch excellence. From a hawk that keeps pigeons away to science-backed grass, its charm comes from the little details—the things most fans never see on TV.
It’s not just a tennis tournament; it’s more like a living museum of sport, royalty, and respect.
