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Tennis · Interesting Facts

Chapter 7: Geography & Culture

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 15 October 2026 · markdown

Tennis in fashion, film and custom: dresses that caused a stir, a shoe with two names, Hitchcock and Hollywood, a painting of a lawn party, the Royal Box, strawberries and The Queue.

7.71Fashion on Court

Lenglen's dress, the lace of 1949, a bodysuit, a shoe with two names and Wimbledon's newest dress-code exception.

Test 1What players woreTake a test

  1. Tinling had been the club's player liaison; after the outfit he was not asked back for 33 years.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame, Ted Tinling (tennisfame.com) · recall

  2. Free of the corset, she could run and leap in a way the long, stiff dresses of the day did not allow.

    Source: Britannica, 'Suzanne Lenglen'; Sports Illustrated, 'Suzanne Lenglen, tennis's first diva' · recall

  3. Patou designed her pleated skirts and sleeveless cardigans, and sold the look to women off court.

    Source: Britannica, 'Suzanne Lenglen'; Sports Illustrated, 'Suzanne Lenglen, tennis's first diva' · recall

  4. She wore the white Lycra bodysuit in a first-round match against Pam Shriver.

    Source: The Washington Post, 'White's outfit is a big hit at Wimbledon' (1985); ESPN · recall

  5. Referee Alan Mills asked her to wear something more conventional; she lost the match the next day.

    Source: The Washington Post, 'White's outfit is a big hit at Wimbledon' (1985); ESPN · recall

  6. The shoe took its current name in 1978, after the American champion whose face had been on the tongue for years.

    Source: StockX, 'Stan Smith: a brief history'; Hypebeast, 'Who is Stan Smith?' (2022) · recall

  7. The change came after players spoke of the stress of playing in all white during their periods.

    Source: NPR, 'Wimbledon will allow women to wear colored undershorts' (2022); Forbes (2023) · recall

  8. 1919, 1949, 1985 and 2023.

    Source: Britannica; Hall of Fame; The Washington Post; NPR · recall

  9. For a few years both men were on the shoe: Haillet's name on the side, Smith's face on the tongue.

    Source: StockX, 'Stan Smith: a brief history'; Hypebeast, 'Who is Stan Smith?' (2022) · recall

  10. Photographers lay on the ground to catch the lace, and the press called her 'Gorgeous Gussie'.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame, Ted Tinling (tennisfame.com) · recall

7.72Screen and Canvas

Tennis in Hitchcock and in recent films, and a famous Victorian painting of a game among friends.

Test 1Films and a paintingTake a test

  1. In Patricia Highsmith's novel Guy was an architect; the film made him a tennis star.

    Source: TCM, 'Behind the camera: Strangers on a Train'; RogerEbert.com, 'Strangers on a Train' (1951) · recall

  2. Every head turns from side to side with the rally except Bruno's, which stares at Guy.

    Source: TCM, 'Behind the camera: Strangers on a Train'; RogerEbert.com, 'Strangers on a Train' (1951) · recall

  3. A coach, Jack Cunningham, taught Farley Granger the strokes and played his opponent in the close shots.

    Source: TCM, 'Behind the camera: Strangers on a Train'; RogerEbert.com, 'Strangers on a Train' (1951) · recall

  4. It was his first Oscar; the film was also nominated for Best Picture.

    Source: CBS Sports and Deadline, 'Will Smith wins best actor Oscar for King Richard' (2022) · recall

  5. Emma Stone played Billie Jean King; the film was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

    Source: WTOP News (AP review), 'Emma Stone, Steve Carell hold serve in Battle of the Sexes' (2017) · recall

  6. Sverrir Gudnason played Borg and Stellan Skarsgard his coach, Lennart Bergelin.

    Source: Tennis.com, 'Tennis on film: Borg vs. McEnroe (2017)'; The Skinny · recall

  7. An injury ended Tashi's playing career; the film follows her, her husband and his old best friend.

    Source: Variety, 'Challengers review' (2024); Britannica, 'Challengers' · recall

  8. 1951, 2004, 2021 and 2024.

    Source: TCM; RogerEbert.com; CBS Sports; Variety · recall

  9. 1973, 1980 and 1994: the King Richard story ends with Venus turning professional.

    Source: Britannica; Tennis.com; CBS Sports · recall

  10. The Tennis Party is in Aberdeen Art Gallery; it won a medal at the Paris Salon and made Lavery's name.

    Source: Art UK, 'The Tennis Party' by John Lavery, Aberdeen Art Gallery; The Victorian Web · recall

7.73Wimbledon Traditions

The bow to the Royal Box, strawberries picked at dawn, an 86-year drinks partner and The Queue.

Test 1Customs of the ChampionshipsTake a test

  1. Before 2003 players bowed whenever a member of the Royal Family sat in the box.

    Source: Deseret News (AP), 'Wimbledon drops bowing to Royal Box' (2003); Wimbledon · recall

  2. The rule now covers only the two most senior royals.

    Source: Deseret News (AP), 'Wimbledon drops bowing to Royal Box' (2003); Wimbledon · recall

  3. Hugh Lowe Farms at Mereworth plants about 100,000 new plants each spring for the tournament.

    Source: Forbes, 'The details and history of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream' (2025); The Globe and Mail (2025) · recall

  4. Pickers start at dawn; the berries reach the club by about 9 a.m. to be checked and hulled.

    Source: Forbes, 'The details and history of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream' (2025); The Globe and Mail (2025) · recall

  5. The 86-year deal was one of the longest in sport, second at Wimbledon only to Slazenger's.

    Source: Insider Sport and Sportcal, 'Robinsons ends Wimbledon partnership after 86 years' (2022) · recall

  6. The card is not a ticket: it shows your place in line and is needed to buy one.

    Source: Yahoo Sports, 'The Queue at Wimbledon 2026: ultimate guide'; Londonist · recall

  7. Stewards check the cards; fans who camp overnight are woken at 6 a.m. to pack away their tents.

    Source: Yahoo Sports, 'The Queue at Wimbledon 2026: ultimate guide'; Londonist · recall

  8. 1935, 2003 and 2022.

    Source: Insider Sport; Deseret News (AP); Sportcal · recall

  9. Each berry goes from the plant to a bowl in a few hours.

    Source: Forbes, 'The details and history of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream' (2025); The Globe and Mail (2025) · recall

  10. That took over 55 tons of berries, about 2.5 million strawberries.

    Source: Forbes, 'The details and history of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream' (2025); The Globe and Mail (2025) · recall

7.74Tennis in Books

A novel set at a tennis academy, an essay on Federer, Agassi's frank memoir and a book about one match.

Test 1Tennis on the pageTake a test

  1. Wallace was a strong junior player in Illinois.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com), 'Infinite Jest' · recall

  2. It is built around the 2006 Wimbledon final.

    Source: The New York Times, 'Roger Federer as Religious Experience' (2006) · recall

  3. It became one of the best-selling sports books of its time.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andre Agassi; Britannica (britannica.com) · recall

  4. He wrote that his father had pushed him into the game as a small boy.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andre Agassi; Britannica (britannica.com) · recall

  5. The Pulitzer-winning journalist later helped Prince Harry write Spare.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com), 'Open' · recall

  6. It follows their 1968 US Open semi-final shot by shot.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com), John McPhee · recall

  7. He wrote it with Arnold Rampersad.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Arthur Ashe · recall

  8. 1969, 1993, 1996 and 2009.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com) · recall

  9. 1931, 1943, 1962 and 1964.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com) · recall

  10. Its long notes at the back include tennis drills and a game played on a map.

    Source: Britannica (britannica.com), 'Infinite Jest' · recall

7.75Tennis Around the World

Champions who were firsts for their countries: Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Tunisia and Cameroon.

Test 1Firsts for nationsTake a test

  1. He beat Andre Agassi in the final at the age of 30.

    Source: Roland-Garros official site; International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com) · recall

  2. They were Chile's first Olympic golds; Fernando Gonzalez was his doubles partner.

    Source: Olympedia; Chilean Olympic Committee · recall

  3. He was the first Mexican to win a major singles title.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Rafael Osuna · recall

  4. Born in Moscow, she had switched to Kazakhstan in 2018.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Elena Rybakina · recall

  5. She reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals that year.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Ons Jabeur · recall

  6. Ashe helped him go to train in France; Noah won the French Open in 1983.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Yannick Noah · recall

  7. Fans in Paris called him by his nickname, Guga.

    Source: Roland-Garros official site; ATP Tour (atptour.com) · recall

  8. 1963, 1990, 2004 and 2022.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); Olympedia; WTA (wtatennis.com) · recall

  9. From the Americas across the Atlantic to North Africa and Central Asia.

    Source: Atlas · recall

  10. He drew it with his racket and lay down in it; he went on to win the title.

    Source: Roland-Garros official site (rolandgarros.com) · recall

7.76Tennis and Politics

A boycotted final, a visit to apartheid South Africa, a defection in New York and a ban at Wimbledon.

Test 1When tennis met politicsTake a test

  1. South Africa took the cup without a match being played.

    Source: Davis Cup official site (daviscup.com) · recall

  2. He had been refused a visa several times before.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Arthur Ashe · recall

  3. She left Czechoslovakia at 18 and became a US citizen in 1981.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); WTA (wtatennis.com), Martina Navratilova · recall

  4. Roosevelt played often on the court he had built at the White House.

    Source: White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org) · recall

  5. She was honoured for her work for women's sport and equal rights.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Billie Jean King · recall

  6. The ban followed the invasion of Ukraine; it was lifted for 2023.

    Source: Wimbledon.com · recall

  7. The event went ahead as usual, but without points for the rankings.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com); WTA (wtatennis.com) · recall

  8. 1973, 1974, 1975 and 2022.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); daviscup.com; Wimbledon.com · recall

  9. 2006, 2009 and 2020.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); usopen.org; ITF · recall

  10. It was built on the South Lawn during his first term.

    Source: White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org) · recall

7.77Screen Stories

Tennis on screen beyond the biopics: Match Point, the Tenenbaums, a week-long mockumentary, The Simpsons and Netflix.

Test 1Films and seriesTake a test

  1. His character becomes a coach at a smart London club.

    Source: TCM; RogerEbert.com, 'Match Point' · recall

  2. Its title is the point that can win a match.

    Source: RogerEbert.com, 'Match Point' · recall

  3. His breakdown on court is one of the film's best-known scenes.

    Source: RogerEbert.com, 'The Royal Tenenbaums' · recall

  4. It spoofs a Wimbledon match that lasts a week.

    Source: HBO; Variety (2015) · recall

  5. It followed players through a season on the tours.

    Source: Netflix; Variety (2023) · recall

  6. Homer builds a tennis court in the back garden.

    Source: Fox; The Simpsons episode guide · recall

  7. She plays a rising American star who falls for a fading British player.

    Source: Variety, 'Wimbledon' (2004) · recall

  8. 2001, 2005, 2015 and 2023.

    Source: Film and TV listings · recall

  9. About 22 minutes, 43 minutes, two hours and a whole series.

    Source: Film and TV listings · recall

  10. The voice-over wonders which side the ball will fall on.

    Source: RogerEbert.com, 'Match Point' · recall

7.78Tennis in Art and Design

A poster on every student's wall, the club colours of Wimbledon, artists' posters in Paris and the crocodile badge.

Test 1Tennis and designTake a test

  1. It sold in the millions and hung on student walls for decades.

    Source: Victoria and Albert Museum; BBC News · recall

  2. The photographer was Martin Elliott; the dress was made by the model's friend.

    Source: BBC News; Victoria and Albert Museum · recall

  3. The earlier colours were blue, yellow, red and green.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'The club colours' · recall

  4. Artists have included Joan Miro and Valerio Adami.

    Source: Roland-Garros official site, 'The posters' · recall

  5. She also runs an interior design firm.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Venus Williams · recall

  6. She later launched her own clothing line.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Serena Williams · recall

  7. Rene Lacoste founded the company after his playing career ended.

    Source: Lacoste, history (lacoste.com) · recall

  8. 1909, 1933, 1976, 1980 and 2007.

    Source: Wimbledon.com; Lacoste; V&A; rolandgarros.com; WTA (wtatennis.com) · recall

  9. Each year's poster becomes a collector's piece.

    Source: Roland-Garros official site, 'The posters' · recall

  10. George drew the crocodile that Lacoste had embroidered on his blazer.

    Source: Lacoste, history (lacoste.com) · recall

7.79Words from Around the Court

Deuce in French, German and Spanish, where the word came from, and slang from the SABR to the tweener.

Test 1The language of tennisTake a test

  1. French umpires say 'egalite' when the players are level at forty-all.

    Source: French Tennis Federation (fft.fr) · recall

  2. An advantage is 'Vorteil'.

    Source: German Tennis Federation (dtb-tennis.de) · recall

  3. It means 'equals'; an advantage is 'ventaja'.

    Source: Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (rfet.es) · recall

  4. Italian umpires announce 'parita' at forty-all; an advantage is 'vantaggio'.

    Source: Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (fitp.it) · recall

  5. SABR stood for 'Sneak Attack By Roger'.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Roger Federer · recall

  6. Moonballs push the opponent back and slow the rally down.

    Source: ITF, coaching glossary (itftennis.com) · recall

  7. Tanking a match can bring fines and investigations.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), rules on best effort · recall

  8. The moonball loops high and lands deep.

    Source: ITF, coaching glossary (itftennis.com) · recall

  9. It caught servers off guard at the 2015 US Open.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Roger Federer · recall

  10. It is used to chase down a lob that has passed overhead.

    Source: ITF, coaching glossary (itftennis.com) · recall

7.80Going to Wimbledon

The station, the line, the park where fans queue, debentures, the ballot and the houses players rent.

Test 1A visit to the ChampionshipsTake a test

  1. Seats on the outside courts are unreserved; the show courts need their own tickets.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Tickets' · recall

  2. Trains run every few minutes during the Championships.

    Source: Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) · recall

  3. The Queue forms in the park across the road from the club.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'The Queue' · recall

  4. Debentures help pay for building work at the club.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Debentures' · recall

  5. Fans apply months ahead and seats are drawn at random.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Tickets' · recall

  6. Returned seats are sold cheaply to fans already in the grounds.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Ticket resale' · recall

  7. Local families let their homes for the fortnight.

    Source: Wimbledon.com; BBC News · recall

  8. Years ahead, months ahead and the same morning.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Tickets' · recall

  9. Debentures can be traded between holders.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, 'Debentures' · recall

  10. The other marked station, Wimbledon, is further away, beyond the town.

    Source: Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Britannica, The Washington Post, NPR, Forbes, TCM, RogerEbert.com, CBS Sports, Variety, Art UK, AP, Insider Sport, Yahoo Sports. The all-white rule's date and the Battle of the Sexes match itself are asked in Knowledge Testing and left out on purpose.

  • Forbes, 'The details and history of Wimbledon's strawberries and cream' (2025); The Globe and Mail (2025)4
  • TCM, 'Behind the camera: Strangers on a Train'; RogerEbert.com, 'Strangers on a Train' (1951)3
  • ITF, coaching glossary (itftennis.com)3
  • Wimbledon.com, 'Tickets'3
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame, Ted Tinling (tennisfame.com)2
  • Britannica, 'Suzanne Lenglen'; Sports Illustrated, 'Suzanne Lenglen, tennis's first diva'2
  • The Washington Post, 'White's outfit is a big hit at Wimbledon' (1985); ESPN2
  • StockX, 'Stan Smith: a brief history'; Hypebeast, 'Who is Stan Smith?' (2022)2
  • Deseret News (AP), 'Wimbledon drops bowing to Royal Box' (2003); Wimbledon2
  • Yahoo Sports, 'The Queue at Wimbledon 2026: ultimate guide'; Londonist2
  • Britannica (britannica.com), 'Infinite Jest'2
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andre Agassi; Britannica (britannica.com)2
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Arthur Ashe2
  • Britannica (britannica.com)2
  • White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org)2
  • RogerEbert.com, 'Match Point'2
  • Film and TV listings2
  • Roland-Garros official site, 'The posters'2
  • Lacoste, history (lacoste.com)2
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Roger Federer2
  • Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)2
  • Wimbledon.com, 'Debentures'2
  • NPR, 'Wimbledon will allow women to wear colored undershorts' (2022); Forbes (2023)1
  • Britannica; Hall of Fame; The Washington Post; NPR1
  • CBS Sports and Deadline, 'Will Smith wins best actor Oscar for King Richard' (2022)1
  • WTOP News (AP review), 'Emma Stone, Steve Carell hold serve in Battle of the Sexes' (2017)1
  • Tennis.com, 'Tennis on film: Borg vs. McEnroe (2017)'; The Skinny1
  • Variety, 'Challengers review' (2024); Britannica, 'Challengers'1
  • TCM; RogerEbert.com; CBS Sports; Variety1
  • Britannica; Tennis.com; CBS Sports1
  • Art UK, 'The Tennis Party' by John Lavery, Aberdeen Art Gallery; The Victorian Web1
  • Insider Sport and Sportcal, 'Robinsons ends Wimbledon partnership after 86 years' (2022)1
  • Insider Sport; Deseret News (AP); Sportcal1
  • The New York Times, 'Roger Federer as Religious Experience' (2006)1
  • Britannica (britannica.com), 'Open'1
  • Britannica (britannica.com), John McPhee1
  • Roland-Garros official site; International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com)1
  • Olympedia; Chilean Olympic Committee1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Rafael Osuna1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Elena Rybakina1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Ons Jabeur1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Yannick Noah1
  • Roland-Garros official site; ATP Tour (atptour.com)1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); Olympedia; WTA (wtatennis.com)1
  • Atlas1
  • Roland-Garros official site (rolandgarros.com)1
  • Davis Cup official site (daviscup.com)1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); WTA (wtatennis.com), Martina Navratilova1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Billie Jean King1
  • Wimbledon.com1
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com); WTA (wtatennis.com)1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); daviscup.com; Wimbledon.com1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); usopen.org; ITF1
  • TCM; RogerEbert.com, 'Match Point'1
  • RogerEbert.com, 'The Royal Tenenbaums'1
  • HBO; Variety (2015)1
  • Netflix; Variety (2023)1
  • Fox; The Simpsons episode guide1
  • Variety, 'Wimbledon' (2004)1
  • Victoria and Albert Museum; BBC News1
  • BBC News; Victoria and Albert Museum1
  • Wimbledon.com, 'The club colours'1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Venus Williams1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Serena Williams1
  • Wimbledon.com; Lacoste; V&A; rolandgarros.com; WTA (wtatennis.com)1
  • French Tennis Federation (fft.fr)1
  • German Tennis Federation (dtb-tennis.de)1
  • Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (rfet.es)1
  • Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (fitp.it)1
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), rules on best effort1
  • Wimbledon.com, 'The Queue'1
  • Wimbledon.com, 'Ticket resale'1
  • Wimbledon.com; BBC News1