How and why tennis became synonymous with powerful women

One hundred and forty years ago, tennis amateurs William Marshall and Spencer Gore strode onto grass courts to face off in the first-ever Wimbledon championship, thus initiating the event into the sporting world's zeitgeist

Seven years later in 1884, the first Lady's Singles tournament was held at Wimbledon, marking a milestone: At a time when women's roles in society were relegated primarily to matters of the household, inviting female competitors onto the courts was an unprecedented nod to inclusion

In the following century and a half, some of the traditions established in those nascent Wimbledon years have held steadfast, while others have faded into antiquity. Though the tournament is still the only major tennis event held on grass courts, viewership has grown significantly since the initial championship's mere 200 spectators (today’s crowds number in the tens of thousands) — not to mention, there's £31.6 million at stake in prize money. In addition, high-profile sponsorships, broadcast viewing figures, and record-setting pageviews now factor into the tournament's many metrics. Read more...

More about Entertainment, Sports, Supported, Tennis, and Sponsored

COntributer : Mashable http://ift.tt/2thlcYc