The UK's event of the month must be the Lawn Tennis Association's Wimbledon 2004 which takes place between 22 June and 4 July.

The most celebrated tennis event in the world began life in the 19th century as a infinitely smaller competition, bearing almost no resemblance to the modern-day championships.

Strawberries and cream, television coverage and Henmania were all light years away from the inaugural Lawn Tennis Championships of 1877.

Hoping to make it to the LTA centre court will be all your top tennis seeds, hopefully including Tim Henman and Andre Agassi.

Ground Opening and Matches

On Courts 2–19 play is provisionally scheduled to start at 12.00 midday for at least the first eight days and at 11.00 a.m. for Junior matches on the middle Saturday and during the second week.

On Centre and No.1 Courts play will start at 1.00 p.m. except on the final two days when play on these courts will start at 2.00 p.m. Please check the daily order of play. In the first week the early rounds of the Men’s and Ladies’ Singles, Men’s, Ladies’ and Mixed Doubles will be played on all courts, with top seeds’ matches played on the show courts.

On the middle Saturday the Veterans’ and Juniors’ events commence and will be played on the outside courts as well as on some of the show courts.

Arrive early: This year’s tournament runs from June 21 to July 4. The chances of watching famous players are best in the early rounds, when matches fill the club’s 19 grass courts. You can get roaming access to unreserved seating at all except three of those—the coveted Centre, No. 1, and No. 2, which require surcharges—but only if you score a ground pass.