1879 Wimbledon Championship 1879 Wimbledon Championship The 1879 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 7 July until 16 July. It was the 3rd staging of the Wimbledon Championships, and the first Grand Slam tennis event of 1879. The entry for the 1879 all comers' tournament was 45, of whom 36 were newcomers. The all comers' final was watched by 1100 spectators. John Hartley defeated Frank Hadow, walkover John Hartley defeated Vere St. Leger Goold, 6–2, 6–4, 6–2 Vere St. Leger Goold defeated
Mike Davies (tennis) first Players Association (IPTPA) was the forerunner of what is now the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), of which Davies was to become executive director in 1982. In 1961 Davies published two books: one a teaching book, and the other a biography called "Tennis Rebel" (Stanley Paul, London). Davies retired in 1967, one year before Wimbledon finally allowed professionals to play. However, he did come out of retirement to play in the first Open at Wimbledon. He had missed 28 Grand Slam events during the ban. In 1967 Lamar Hunt co-founded World Championship Tennis (WCT) with his nephew, Al G.