July 9th, marks the anniversary of Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, first held in 1877. The inaugural championship featured only the Gentlemen’s Singles event, but it has since expanded to include a variety of events, including men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
At this year’s Championships which started on July 1st and will conclude on July 14th, Slazenger is celebrating 122 years of partnership with Wimbledon as the official tennis ball supplier. This milestone highlights Slazenger’s enduring legacy and commitment to the sport of tennis. In 2024, Slazenger is going all out to celebrate this long standing partnership and aims to inspire and empower everyone to play tennis, regardless of their background.
As part of these celebrations, Slazenger has partnered with Water Aid and the Wimbledon Foundation. They have donated over 5,000 tennis balls to create a giant mosaic on one of Wimbledon’s iconic courts. This mosaic conveys a powerful message: each day of The Championships, 1,000 children’s lives could be saved if they had access to safe water, toilets, and hygiene.
After the event, these balls will be donated to several charitable organisations including Bright Ideas for Tennis, Give It Your Max, the Tim Henman Foundation, Tennis for Free, and Rally4Ever. These initiatives reflect Slazenger’s dedication to giving back to the community and promoting tennis to a wider audience.
One of the main highlights for fans this year will be the custom Slazenger ice cream van, cruising around the Wimbledon neighborhood during both weekends of the tournament. Plus, tennis fans can catch amazing Slazenger window displays at SPORTS DIRECT on Oxford Street and Lilywhites in Piccadilly.
Slazenger’s efforts this year also underscore their commitment not only to the sport of tennis but also to making a positive impact on communities and encouraging people everywhere to pick up a racket and enjoy the game.