Your guide to Wimbledon
The 136th Wimbledon Championships is coming. One of the four Grand Slams in the tennis calendar, fans are getting excited about seeing the world’s best players in action.
This year’s Wimbledon is shaping up to be a very exciting new chapter in tennis. Only four men (Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray) have won the last 19 tournaments dating all the way back to 2003. With Federer
retired and the others in the twilight of their careers, we could experience a changing of the guard with many talented youngsters waiting in the wings. The same is true of the Ladies’ competition; the retirement of all-time great Serena Williams and former world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty has left the door open for new champions to come to the fore.
When does Wimbledon start?
Wimbledon 2023 takes place over 14 days, from Monday 3 July to Sunday 16 July.
Wimbledon 2023 schedule
Ready to plan your trip to Wimbledon? Here’s the schedule for the fortnight:
Men’s & ladies’ 1st round - Monday 3 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 1st round - Tuesday 4 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 2nd round - Wednesday 5 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 2nd round - Thursday 6 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 3rd round - Friday 7 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 3rd round - Saturday 8 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 4th round - Sunday 9 July 2023
Men’s & ladies’ 4th round - Monday 10 July 2023
Men’s singles quarterfinals - Tuesday 11 July 2023
Ladies’ singles quarterfinals - Tuesday 11 July 2023
Men’s singles quarterfinals - Wednesday 12 July 2023
Ladies’ singles quarterfinals - Wednesday 12 July 2023
Ladies’ singles semifinals - Thursday 13 July 2023
Mixed doubles final - Thursday 13 July 2023
Men’s singles semifinals - Friday 14 July 2023
Ladies’ singles final - Saturday 15 July 2023
Men’s doubles final - Saturday 16 July 2023
Men’s singles final - Sunday 16 July 2023
Ladies’ doubles final - Sunday 16 July 2023
The full order of play will be available the night before the next day’s play. Visit the official Wimbledon website to find out more.
How does the Wimbledon ballot work?
The Wimbledon Public Ballot is designed to be the fairest way to assign highly sought-after tickets to The Championships. Entering the ballot, however, doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily get a ticket, and you can’t
request tickets for particular days or courts.
Your application will be placed in a draw, and successful applicants will be chosen by a randomised computer algorithm. The algorithm also assigns the day and court for your visit.
The Wimbledon Public Ballot is now closed for 2023. If you’ve missed your chance this year, you can plan to apply for next year. Entry for the 2024 ballot will open in September 2023.
If you weren’t selected in the Public Ballot, there are still ways to get your hands on Wimbledon tickets for 2023.
You could try your luck on the day by visiting the on-site Resale Kiosk. Any spectators leaving the Grounds who don’t plan to return on the same day will give their ticket back to the Kiosk, which you can then buy for between £5 and £10. Proceeds from Kiosk sales are donated to charity via the Wimbledon Foundation.
Another option is to join the time-honoured tradition of ‘The Queue’. As the name suggests, this does involve joining a very long queue, but one with a fun mood to it.
‘The Queue’ often starts the evening before and grows longer early the next morning. On the plus side, your patience will be rewarded with either a limited Show Court ticket or a Grounds ticket, provided there’s enough capacity inside the Grounds.
If you don’t fancy risking it on the day, there are exclusive options for American Express Cardmembers. Firstly, you can purchase Wimbledon hospitality packages through the Keith Prowse website. Choose from a range of VIP options, expertly designed to offer you an elegant and unforgettable Amex Wimbledon experience.
Cardmembers also have the chance purchase Last-Minute Centre Court tickets for The Championships. Tickets are available in 3 sales windows:
- Saturday 1 July @ 10am – Week 1 Tickets (Gentleman’s & Ladies’ First to Fourth Rounds)
- Saturday 8 July @ 10am - Week 2 (Gentleman’s & Ladies Fourth Round to Semis)
- Thursday 13 July @ 10am – Finals
All tickets when live will be on amextickets.wimbledon.com
Beyond exclusive ticket access, American Express provides a number of benefits to its Cardmembers both on and off-site.
There is an exclusive Cardmember Lounge where fans can go and relax away from the busy Grounds. Here you have a chance to grab some refreshments, including bespoke Sipsmith cocktails, and there’s also a unique Ralph Lauren fashion experience.
The other main space on-site is the American Express Tennis Fan Experience, the highlight of which is the Centre Court Challenge interactive ballboy/girl game with Andy Murray walking you through how to play. You can also have your trainers cleaned, send a postcard anywhere in the world from the Championships for free, and a number of other great benefits.
There is also a site-wide spend offer for all Amex Cardmembers – Spend £120, get £20 back – across Food and Beverage and retail.
For those not attending on-site but still looking to get in the Wimbledon spirit, there’s a 20% online discount running throughout the tournament from 26 June – 24 July, along with an exclusive opportunity to have a Wimbledon picnic delivered and enjoyed at home – including the world-famous strawberries and cream.
The Championships, Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Founded in 1877, it is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, and the only one played on grass. It’s recognised as one of the highlights of the British summer and has a great number of traditions including a white dress code for competitors, strawberries and cream and royal patronage.
The first Wimbledon Championship in 1877 was won by Spencer Gore, who cemented his name in Wimbledon history by winning the Gentlemen’s Singles against opponent William Marshall. Gore was also a first-class cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club. He’s also credited as the creator of the volley, demonstrating the technique on the court for the first time at the inaugural Championships.
Women were finally accepted to enter the Wimbledon Championship in 1884. Thirteen women entered that year, with the win going to 19-year-old Maud Watson, who won in three sets. She returned to win once again in 1885.
The youngest person to ever win the singles crown was also a woman. Following her initial win in 1887, 15-year-old Lottie Dod went on to win the next four Championships she entered. The record she set as the youngest champion still stands.
