January 1, 1970

Tennis, or Sphairistike as it was originally known,began to grow during the late nineteenth century; the first Championship at Wimbledon was held in 1877. The most successful female tennis player of this period was Lottie Dod who went on to win the tournament five times between 1887 and 1893. A multi-talented woman, she also won the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championships, played twice for England Women’s National Field Hockey Team and won a silver medal at the 1908 Olympic Games in archery!

This period also marked the beginning of the institutionalisation of sport and both the Football Association and the Lawn Tennis Association were set up during 1888.