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Tennis · Interesting Facts

Chapter 9: Fans, Media & Money

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

Tennis as a show and a business: television, video games, sponsors, charity, endorsements, food and drink, stamps and coins, the running of the tours, record crowds and the voices of the game.

9.91Tennis on Television

The BBC's first pictures in 1937, colour in 1967, Breakfast at Wimbledon and the long TV deals.

Test 1Tennis on the screenTake a test

  1. It was among the first sports broadcasts anywhere.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  2. Few homes had colour sets, so most viewers still watched in black and white.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  3. The coverage ran until 2011.

    Source: NBC Sports; ESPN press releases · recall

  4. Afternoon play in London is morning on the US east coast.

    Source: NBC Sports · recall

  5. It ended NBC's long run with the event.

    Source: ESPN press releases · recall

  6. ESPN has shown the event alone since 2015.

    Source: CBS Sports; ESPN press releases · recall

  7. It is one of the longest partnerships in sports broadcasting.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  8. 1937, 1967, 1979 and 2012.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); NBC; ESPN · recall

  9. About 33 years, 47 years, and since 1937.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); NBC; CBS · recall

  10. David Attenborough, then running BBC Two, chose the Championships for the launch.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

9.92Tennis in Video Games

From a lab experiment of 1958 to Mario, Wii Sports and TopSpin.

Test 1Tennis on the consoleTake a test

  1. He was a physicist who wanted to entertain visitors.

    Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory, 'The First Video Game?' (bnl.gov) · recall

  2. Visitors to Brookhaven National Laboratory queued to play it.

    Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory (bnl.gov) · recall

  3. He sat in the chair calling the score.

    Source: Nintendo (nintendo.com) · recall

  4. It was later released on home consoles.

    Source: Sega (sega.com) · recall

  5. Players swung the controller like a racket.

    Source: Nintendo (nintendo.com) · recall

  6. It introduced Waluigi as a new character.

    Source: Nintendo (nintendo.com) · recall

  7. It featured both current players and legends.

    Source: 2K Games (2k.com) · recall

  8. 1958, 1984, 1999, 2006 and 2024.

    Source: bnl.gov; Nintendo; Sega; 2K · recall

  9. 1984, 2000 and 2018.

    Source: Nintendo (nintendo.com) · recall

  10. The screen was an oscilloscope, a lab instrument.

    Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory (bnl.gov) · recall

9.93Sponsors and Brands

Who dresses Wimbledon's officials, drives the Australian Open's players and pays the stars.

Test 1The brands of tennisTake a test

  1. Umpires, line judges and ball kids wear its kit.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, partners · recall

  2. Its cars carry players around Melbourne.

    Source: Australian Open (ausopen.com) · recall

  3. The deal was reported to be worth about $300 million over ten years.

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

  4. He also helped design its tennis shoes.

    Source: On (on.com) · recall

  5. He had earlier been sponsored by Uniqlo and Sergio Tacchini.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Novak Djokovic · recall

  6. The gummies came in shapes such as tennis balls and lips.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Maria Sharapova · recall

  7. 2002, 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2018.

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

  8. Uniqlo came in 2018; the logo came back in 2020.

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

  9. Its soles have hollow pods that squash on landing.

    Source: On (on.com) · recall

9.94Tennis and Charity

Foundations for health, schools and kindergartens, and charity nights after floods and fires.

Test 1Giving backTake a test

  1. The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health is in Brooklyn, New York.

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

  2. It also funds projects in Switzerland.

    Source: Roger Federer Foundation (rogerfedererfoundation.org) · recall

  3. Top players joined an exhibition night before the Australian Open.

    Source: Tennis Australia; ausopen.com · recall

  4. He gave it through UNICEF.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andy Murray; UNICEF · recall

  5. It builds and improves kindergartens.

    Source: Novak Djokovic Foundation (novakdjokovicfoundation.org) · recall

  6. The schools were built through her fund and partners.

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

  7. It works for girls' and women's access to sport.

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

  8. 1974, 1992, 2003, 2011 and 2022.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com) · recall

  9. 1943, 1981 and 1987.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com) · recall

  10. The fires of the 2019-20 summer burned huge areas of Australia.

    Source: Tennis Australia; ausopen.com · recall

9.95Forbes and Endorsements

Who earned the most: Federer on top of all sport, Sharapova's long run, Osaka's record and Agassi's slogan.

Test 1Money off the courtTake a test

  1. Most of his money came from sponsors rather than prize money.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) (2020) · recall

  2. Only about $6 million was prize money.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) (2020) · recall

  3. Her run lasted from 2005 to 2015.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) · recall

  4. She earned about $37.4 million, just ahead of Serena Williams.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) (2020) · recall

  5. She took over from Maria Sharapova.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) · recall

  6. She won two Australian Open doubles titles with Martina Hingis.

    Source: WTA (wtatennis.com), Anna Kournikova · recall

  7. The line followed him for years, until he won Wimbledon in 1992.

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

  8. 1989, 2005, 2016 and 2020.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com) · recall

  9. About $36 million, $37.4 million and $106 million.

    Source: Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) (2020) · recall

  10. His long hair and denim shorts were part of the image.

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

9.96Food and Drink

The Honey Deuce, Pimm's, the wine allowance, a gluten-free champion and the changeover banana.

Test 1Tennis on the menuTake a test

  1. The melon balls sit on a pick on top of the drink.

    Source: US Open (usopen.org); Grey Goose · recall

  2. It is mixed with lemonade and raspberry liqueur.

    Source: US Open (usopen.org); Grey Goose · recall

  3. The gin-based summer drink is a Wimbledon favourite.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, food and drink · recall

  4. The other choice is two cans of beer or cider.

    Source: Wimbledon.com, ground regulations · recall

  5. He said it changed his fitness and his results.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com), Novak Djokovic · recall

  6. Bananas also contain potassium, lost in sweat.

    Source: ITF, sports science (itftennis.com) · recall

  7. Its coffee is served to fans, players and media.

    Source: Lavazza (lavazza.com) · recall

  8. It is sold by the hundreds of thousands each US Open.

    Source: US Open (usopen.org); Grey Goose · recall

  9. 1935, 1971 and the 2000s.

    Source: Wimbledon.com; usopen.org · recall

  10. Its name plays on 'deuce' and on the honeydew melon.

    Source: US Open (usopen.org); Grey Goose · recall

9.97Stamps and Coins

Champions on money and mail: Federer's coins and stamp, Murray's stamps, Ashe's stamp and the Olympic 50p.

Test 1Tennis in your pocketTake a test

  1. He was the first living person on a Swiss coin.

    Source: Swissmint (swissmint.ch) · recall

  2. Demand was so great that more coins had to be struck.

    Source: Swissmint (swissmint.ch); SWI swissinfo.ch · recall

  3. It was the first Swiss stamp to show a living person.

    Source: Swiss Post (post.ch); SWI swissinfo.ch · recall

  4. They went on sale within days of the final.

    Source: Royal Mail (royalmail.com) · recall

  5. It was part of the Black Heritage series.

    Source: US Postal Service (usps.com) · recall

  6. It was one of 29 designs, one for each Olympic sport.

    Source: The Royal Mint (royalmint.com) · recall

  7. Only a small number of the gold coins were made.

    Source: Swissmint (swissmint.ch) · recall

  8. 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2020.

    Source: usps.com; post.ch; royalmint.com; royalmail.com; swissmint.ch · recall

  9. 1943, 1981 and 1987.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com) · recall

  10. The design showed him hitting a backhand.

    Source: Swissmint (swissmint.ch) · recall

9.98The Business of the Tours

The car-park press conference, the players' tour of 1990, the Masters 1000 name, the PTPA and new sponsors.

Test 1Who runs tennisTake a test

  1. The 'parking lot press conference' led to the ATP Tour.

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

  2. It replaced the old Grand Prix circuit.

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

  3. He had served President Jimmy Carter.

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

  4. It ended with a season-ending Masters for the best players.

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

  5. The 500 and 250 levels were named at the same time.

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

  6. It speaks for players apart from the ATP.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com); PTPA (ptpaplayers.com) · recall

  7. The Public Investment Fund signed deals with both tours.

    Source: ATP Tour (atptour.com); WTA (wtatennis.com) (2024) · recall

  8. 1970, 1988, 1990, 2009 and 2020.

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

  9. The players took control of their own circuit.

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

  10. The press conference was held in a car park at Flushing Meadows.

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

9.99Record Crowds

The biggest crowds in tennis: a Belgian football stadium, a Davis Cup final in Lille and a million fans in Melbourne.

Test 1Packed stadiumsTake a test

  1. The exhibition was held in a football stadium.

    Source: WTA; Reuters (2010) · recall

  2. It is Belgium's national football stadium.

    Source: WTA; Reuters (2010) · recall

  3. France and Switzerland played inside a football stadium with a roof.

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

  4. The Stade Pierre-Mauroy is home to the Lille football club.

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

  5. It was a record for the tournament.

    Source: Australian Open (ausopen.com) · recall

  6. Fans can watch top players train in the days before the event.

    Source: US Open (usopen.org) · recall

  7. Australia lost to the United States that year.

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

  8. 1954, 2010, 2014 and 2024.

    Source: daviscup.com; WTA; ausopen.com · recall

  9. 27,448, 35,681 and 51,954.

    Source: daviscup.com; WTA; Al Jazeera · recall

  10. The record stood until the Match in Africa in 2020.

    Source: WTA; Reuters (2010) · recall

9.100Commentators and Writers

Dan Maskell's 'Oh, I say!', Bud Collins's trousers, a magazine pioneer and the BBC's long-serving presenter.

Test 1The voices of tennisTake a test

  1. He covered the Championships from 1951 to 1991.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  2. He wore them on air for decades.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Bud Collins · recall

  3. It lists results and records back to the 1870s.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Bud Collins · recall

  4. Mortimer won the Ladies' Singles in 1961.

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

  5. She later helped launch a women's professional circuit.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Gladys Heldman · recall

  6. She reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1977.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com) · recall

  7. She used it as the title of a book in 2008.

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

  8. 1953, 1976, 1991 and 2022.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  9. 1908, 1922, 1929 and 1956.

    Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

  10. His gentle voice became the sound of Wimbledon for British viewers.

    Source: BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the BBC, the majors' sites, the ATP and WTA, Forbes, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Nintendo, Swissmint, Royal Mail, the US Postal Service, the Davis Cup. Prize money and equal pay are asked in Knowledge Testing and chapter 2 and left out here.

  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), history8
  • BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk)6
  • Nintendo (nintendo.com)4
  • Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com) (2020)4
  • US Open (usopen.org); Grey Goose4
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Roger Federer3
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com)3
  • Swissmint (swissmint.ch)3
  • WTA; Reuters (2010)3
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory (bnl.gov)2
  • Australian Open (ausopen.com)2
  • On (on.com)2
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Novak Djokovic2
  • Tennis Australia; ausopen.com2
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Billie Jean King2
  • Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com)2
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andre Agassi2
  • Davis Cup official site (daviscup.com)2
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Bud Collins2
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com); BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk)2
  • NBC Sports; ESPN press releases1
  • NBC Sports1
  • ESPN press releases1
  • CBS Sports; ESPN press releases1
  • BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); NBC; ESPN1
  • BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); NBC; CBS1
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory, 'The First Video Game?' (bnl.gov)1
  • Sega (sega.com)1
  • 2K Games (2k.com)1
  • bnl.gov; Nintendo; Sega; 2K1
  • Wimbledon.com, partners1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Maria Sharapova1
  • ausopen.com; Wimbledon.com; ATP Tour (atptour.com); WTA (wtatennis.com)1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Arthur Ashe1
  • Roger Federer Foundation (rogerfedererfoundation.org)1
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com), Andy Murray; UNICEF1
  • Novak Djokovic Foundation (novakdjokovicfoundation.org)1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Serena Williams1
  • WTA (wtatennis.com), Anna Kournikova1
  • Forbes, 'The World's Highest-Paid Athletes' lists (forbes.com); ATP Tour (atptour.com)1
  • Wimbledon.com, food and drink1
  • Wimbledon.com, ground regulations1
  • ITF, sports science (itftennis.com)1
  • Lavazza (lavazza.com)1
  • Wimbledon.com; usopen.org1
  • Swissmint (swissmint.ch); SWI swissinfo.ch1
  • Swiss Post (post.ch); SWI swissinfo.ch1
  • Royal Mail (royalmail.com)1
  • US Postal Service (usps.com)1
  • The Royal Mint (royalmint.com)1
  • usps.com; post.ch; royalmint.com; royalmail.com; swissmint.ch1
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com); PTPA (ptpaplayers.com)1
  • ATP Tour (atptour.com); WTA (wtatennis.com) (2024)1
  • US Open (usopen.org)1
  • Davis Cup official site (daviscup.com); Tennis Australia1
  • daviscup.com; WTA; ausopen.com1
  • daviscup.com; WTA; Al Jazeera1
  • Wimbledon.com; International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com)1
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com), Gladys Heldman1
  • BBC, history of Wimbledon coverage (bbc.co.uk); International Tennis Hall of Fame (tennisfame.com)1