Wimbledon's signature dish is strawberries and cream, mainly because the fruit's peak season coincides with the tennis tournament.

Wimbledon enforces a strict all-white dress code, a tradition dating back to the 1800s, when white clothing signified elite status.

Tennis' Grand Slam tournaments take place at some of the sport's most storied venues

There are over 50 events on the WTA calendar, but the tour's four Grand Slam tournaments are the ones both professionals and fans look forward to every year. This Eyes on the Stands video takes you on a journey from Melbourne Park, to Roland Garros, to the All England Club, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to learn the rich history of each venue.

Tennis balls are yellow, partly thanks to a suggestion by British naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

Tennis' weirdest rule (only for women)

At all but one Grand Slam, men and women played with the same tennis ball. But at the US Open, women were required to use a different ball until a change was made a few years ago. We break down the story behind that strange anomaly.

Why professional tennis players are so picky about balls before serving

Just as swimmers shave their bodies before competitions to swim faster, experiments show that tighter, less fluffy balls experience less drag forces when moving through the air and thus produce faster serves at the cost of less control. Players may select a fuzzier ball in scenarios that call for safer, more cautious play.

Modern tennis was formalized in 1874

In the late 1800s England, a growing middle class could afford homes with lawns. With more lawns in England, Major Walter C. Wingfield saw an opportunity to bring lawn tennis to the masses. Modern tennis was formalized in 1874, when Queen Victoria granted a patent for Major Walter C. Wingfield's lawn tennis box set. The game was an instant hit, and by 1877, the new All England Club in Wimbledon began hosting a tournament.

See what women's tennis looked like through history

Women playing tennis today wear athletic clothing tailored to the demands of the sport. But when tennis started in the late 1800s, women were expected to play wearing long, Victorian dresses. Using historic photos, this Bustle article explores how tennis was brought to the US, what it looked like at the 1900 Olympics, and how the sport has grown since its inception.

The world of products surrounding tennis great Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic holds the most singles grand slam titles for men in history at 24. As a proud Serbian, the people of his smaller country take a special pride in Djokovic, and many of his family members and community have taken to using his name to develop products, from restaurants to cheese and wineries. This quick article breaks down Novak's role (or lack of) in those efforts.

The Williams sisters boycotted Indian Wells for 15 years

In 2001, Venus and Serena Williams were set to play each other in the semifinal of the Indian Wells tournament, when Venus pulled out just minutes before the match with a knee injury. Serena was booed at the final, with Venus also booed in the stands. This Players' Tribune article by Venus discusses the sisters' boycott of the event and why they returned in 2016.

Read the 2006 op-ed Venus Williams wrote about equal pay

In 2005 Venus Williams met with French Open officials and the Wimbledon tournament board to advocate for equal prize money between men and women at the prestigious tournaments. The 2007 season marked the first time men and women received equal prize money in every Major.

A history of the Masters Champions' Dinner, an annual golf tradition

The Masters Champions' Dinner is an annual tradition celebrated the Tuesday before the tournament begins. The previous year's champion sets the menu, leading to a history of eclectic meals. This resource from Today's Golfer provides a brief history of the tradition and then details every menu since 1986. It's an interesting window into the tastes of professional athletes (Tiger Woods, apparently, loves chicken fingers!) and the less-than-healthy habits from the sport's past.

Tennis can be played on clay, grass, hard court, or carpet

Tennis started on grass surfaces in England, but as the sport has grown, so have the surfaces used to play the game. This article details how each surface affects ball speed, bounce height, and player movement, and highlights which Major championship uses which surface.

In 1956, Althea Gibson became the first Black Grand Slam champion

From 1944 to 1956, Althea Gibson dominated the American Tennis Association circuit, all while Jim Crow laws denied her entry into tournaments or even a hotel room like her fellow white competitors. This Wimbledon video shows her experience becoming the first Black woman to play the tournament in 1951, and meeting Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 when she won.

The history of the tennis racket

Today's tennis rackets are made from lightweight composite materials, which is a big reason power, speed, and spin dominate today's game. But they weren't always built this way. This Top Sport Gear video shows the evolution of the tennis racket, from its start as medieval paddles, to the wood rackets of the early 1900s.

Billie Jean King organized players into the WTA

In 1973, the Virginia Slims Circuit was successful, but when the USLTA demanded a higher tournament fee for Circuit players, promoter Gladys Heldman refused. In response, Billie Jean King met with over 50 players before the 1973 Wimbledon Championships to form the Women's Tennis Association, a move that led to equal pay at the US Open the following year.

The Virginia Slims Circuit helped popularize women's tennis

Following the success of the Original Nine's first tournament, promoter Gladys Heldman worked with Virginia Slims to create a full-scale tour. While short-lived, the Virginia Slims Circuit marked the beginning of women's professional tennis, though it wasn't without complications, including logistical challenges and controversies stemming from its sponsorship by a cigarette brand.

Gladys Heldman was a key promoter of pro women's tennis

The photo of the Original Nine holding up their $1 bills after signing their contracts is an iconic image in both the sport and the women's liberation movement. Gladys Heldman isn't in that photo, but she was the promoter behind the tournament and the subsequent Virginia Slims Circuit. This WTA Tennis article dives into her life and her unforgettable contributions to women's tennis.

How David Attenborough's work in color television gave tennis balls their color

As controller of BBC Two, Attenborough wanted the BBC to achieve the first full-color broadcast in Europe and saw Wimbledon as the perfect event to make it happen. Noticing that the white tennis balls used then would stain green and become less visible on color broadcasts as matches progressed, he suggested fluorescent balls, which were eventually adopted.

The Open Era redefined both men's and women's tennis

The early days of modern tennis were largely enjoyed by the upper class, who had money for lawns to play on. More often than not, the best players competed for the love of the game, not money. This led to Grand Slams limiting the competitions to amateur athletes. Things changed in 1968, considered the start of the Open Era, when professional players were permitted to play.

Tennis' global evolution

In the 1970s and 1980s, American men and women dominated the top 100 rankings on both tours. But as each tour expanded its global reach, the American dominance declined. This Bleacher Report analysis breaks down the national make-up of the top 100 players for each decade. View maps that show which country gained and lost rankings through each decade and see who is the top country now.

Table tennis originated as a leisure activity for the upper class

The sport's origin story can be traced back to 19th-century England, where it was known as "whiff-whaff." Players initially used a dinner table to play. After decades of evolution, ping-pong reached its "Golden Age" of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.

The tragic story of tennis upstart Monica Seles

At just 17, Monica Seles reached the top of the WTA, becoming the youngest player to do so at the time. She was expected to have a long career, but shortly after she turned 19, a deranged fan stabbed her in the back in the middle of a match. This Cult Tennis video explores the motivation of the fan who stabbed her, how he got away with it, and the impact on the rankings.

Billie Jean King's victory at the 'Battle of the Sexes' drew over 90 million viewers

After Bobby Riggs trounced No. 2-ranked Margaret Court in the first Battle of the Sexes, he challenged superstar Billie Jean King to a match. King beat Bobby Riggs in a match at the Astrodome, which drew 90 million viewers worldwide, leading to the WTA's first TV deal in 1975. Using historic photos, this Sports Illustrated story dives into the spectacle surrounding the event, why King agreed this time, and the impact the match had on King, as well as the future of women's tennis as a whole.

Watermelons were once neither red nor sweet

The gargantuan summer picnic staple has a fascinating story: 100 million tons are produced worldwide and they take up the most space of any vegetable crop in the world. But not long ago, the flesh of the melon was white and it had a bitter taste.

Pickleball's ubiquity has led to a culture clash with tennis

Since the late 1800s, tennis has been the world’s premier racquet sport. But in the late 2010s, rapid growth and investment in Pickleball changed that dynamic. This Cult Tennis video explores the newly created tension between tennis and Pickleball players, both on and off the courts.

Tennis match interrupted by 'Cotton Eye Joe'

Tennis players require extreme focus as they volley on the court, and officials typically enforce significant noise standards during play. So it was quite a shock when the 1995 hit "Cotton Eye Joe"—as recorded by Swedish Eurodance band...

Red foods are often featured in Juneteenth celebrations, which some scholars say is symbolic of enslaved people's bloodshed.

Tennis balls get their bounce from pressurized nitrogen inside vulcanized rubber, made from heating natural rubber with sulfur to create molecular links that harden the material.

The Original Nine paved the way for the WTA

In the late 1960s, men earned 2-3 times as much per tournament as women did. With professional tennis largely run by men, the women didn't have leverage. That prompted nine women to break away and form their own tournament, which in turn led to a dedicated tour the following year. This paved the way for the WTA, and eventually equal pay at Majors.

Some parents are spending about $200 on berries per month

About 32% of respondents to a recent survey about berries said their children typically eat a carton of berries in a single serving. That level of consumption is costing parents more money than one might expect.

Behind the Ryder Cup, the tournament that features golfers playing for their home countries

Established in 1927, the Ryder Cup is unlike any other tournament. The scoring includes a mix of fourball, foursomes, and singles, with half-points for ties. Explore the rich history of the Ryder Cup in this detailed interactive. Each era of history includes detailed accounts of the match, historic photos, and the final score for each team.

Make a popular no-churn watermelon ice cream, using just watermelon and milk.

George Washington loved to serve ice cream while hosting guests, and spent thousands of dollars on it in a single summer.

Billie Jean King on playing tennis before Title IX

Before Title IX, tennis legend Billie Jean King not only had to deal with limited resources; she also had to deal with isolating experiences, like being excluded from team photos at Long Beach State and being told to "get lost" by male teammates. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

The PGA Tour features over 30 tournaments per year, but the most important are its 4 majors: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Open Championship.

Wine was often served at the Marshall court

Marshall was known for his love of alcohol. In the early 1800s, justices (loosely) maintained a rule that they could drink only when it was raining. On a sunny day, Marshall is said to have declared, "Somewhere in our broad jurisdiction it must surely be raining."

World Cup venues spend months cultivating their fields and choosing their grass based on the cities' climates.

Revisit 10 iconic moments from the Women's World Cup

The Women's World Cup was inaugurated over 60 years after the men's, but it has kept pace with its production of iconic moments. Revisit the player revolts, sports bras, shocking referee decisions, and more that comprise the top moments in Women’s...

Celebrities are able to promote prescription drugs on social media without any required mention of potential side effects due to a legal loophole.

How a lawn gnome became the hottest item at the Masters

The kitschy piece of memorabilia debuted in 2016 and has since become a highly sought-after collectible for Master attendees. This ESPN deep dive explores how it happened and what makes the strange little item so attractive for golf fans.

The first official Formula 1 World Championship race was in 1950

On May 13, 1950, Formula 1 held its first race at Silverstone in the UK. Over 150,000 people, including the British monarch (and future Queen Elizabeth II), turned out to watch the field of 28 cars over the 70-lap race. The race wasn't very competitive, but it's still a fascinating artifact to observe.

Tens of thousands of Austen superfans celebrated the writer's 250th anniversary

The Jane Austen 250th celebration sold 15,000 tickets to the writer's most dedicated fans, who dressed in period-specific dress. Austen scholar Devoney Looser says that many readers are attracted to Austen's novels because they're entertaining and funny yet sophisticated works of social criticism.

Every world champion in F1 history

Over the last decade, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have dominated the podium, and their Red Bull Racing and Mercedes teams have taken every Constructors' Championship since 2010. But which team had the most championships in the 1950s? Who has the most Drivers' Championships in Formula 1's history? This article shows every Drivers' and Constructors' champion since the start of Formula 1 in the 1950s.

What it means to call a bracket 'chalk'

If the tournament is rather boring, you might hear a curious word getting thrown around: "chalk." In short, it means that the favorites have been winning. The word's origins go back to horse racing and its sportsbooks, where bookies would post odds on chalkboards. Over time, the bookies came to be known as "chalk" and, years later, tournaments (and their brackets) that seemed to favor those bookies earned the name, too.

Axelle Berthoumieu bit Ireland's Aoife Wafer during the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter‑final in 2025

Biting, waxing pool balls, and modifying ski suits are just a few of the various instances of bad sportsmanship in 2025. It appears that cheating is much harder to get away with in the era of smartphones.

Suzanne Lenglen dominated the tennis world in the early 1920s

Suzanne Lenglen, the sport's top female player from 1921-1926, embodied everything about Jazz Age women: she drank, she smoked, she cursed, and she bucked the trends of Victorian-era women with shorter skirts and sleeveless dresses. This Sports Illustrated article dives into her dominating 341-7 record, her impact in professionalizing tennis, and examines the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death at age 39.

The first F1 sponsor was a cigarette brand

Early F1 cars were typically painted in the team’s national colors, but in 1968, Team Lotus replaced the British racing green with paint resembling their new sponsor, Imperial Tobacco. The sponsorship was a first in the sport and altered the visual and financial landscape of F1 forever.

Each player gets a full celebratory day with the Stanley Cup if their team wins, but not without supervision

During a player's special day, they aren’t just given the Cup and told to return it in 24 hours. Since 1995, it has been accompanied by the Keeper of the Cup.

One NHL team tosses salmon to its fans

Detroit Red Wings fans have thrown octopuses on the ice since 1952, and fans of other teams have tried their own hand at tossing things in the rink ever since. It's now become a calling card for the Seattle Kraken, whose fans nod to the city's Pike Place Market by tossing salmon onto the ice.

Agnes Marshall invented 'ices,' the Victorian equivalent of ice cream, and improved the period's hygienic practices for consuming the dessert.