When what is now the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was founded in 1868, it had no interest in tennis.

Before tennis was introduced to the club in 1875, it dealt solely in croquet.

It is impossible to pinpoint where tennis as we know it today originated – but the man the All England Club thanks was Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, who is thought to have designed an early version for a garden party in Wales.

He gave his game the catchy Greek title, Sphairistike, but the word tennis came into use from France, where tenez, meaning “here, take this”, was called before serving.

So impressed was the All England Club it changed its name and staged the first Lawn Tennis Championship in 1877.

The tournament, formally known as The Championships, Wimbledon has taken place every year (except during the two world wars) and is the only one of the four Grand Slams – the others being the French, Australian and US Opens – to still be played on grass.

In 1905 American May Sutton became the first foreign champion and since then only two British men have won Wimbledon: Fred Perry in 1934, 1935 and 1936 and Arthur Gore in 1908 and 1909.

British women have fared better, with five victors since the First World War: Ann Haydon Jones, 1969; Virginia Wade, 1977; Angela Mortimer Barrett, 1961; Dorothy Round Little, 1937 and 1934; and Kitty McKane Godfree, 1924 and 1926.

Until 1968 only amateurs were allowed to enter Grand Slam tournaments, but by declaring them “open” professionals were free to compete.

In succeeding Tim Henman as Britain’s best hope of success, Andy Murray has seen the famous Henman Hill renamed, unofficially at least, Murray Mound (or Mount).

The Scot has beaten the top two players in the world – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – but never on grass.

Spain’s Nadal, 24, the world number one, will be looking for his eighth Grand Slam but on a surface Federer, 28, excels in.

The Swiss has dominated Wimbledon since his first title in 2003, losing only once, to Nadal in 2008. He is again top seed, with Murray third, behind Nadal.

US super sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who contested the last two finals, top the seeding for women and, for only the fourth time in Wimbledon history, play for the same prize money as the men.

British men still hold the record for most Wimbledon winners, having won the tournament 35 times since its inception, smashing Australia’s 21, and even the USA’s 33.

The Americans edge it in the women’s tournament, with 53 to Great Britain’s 36.

Since the redevelopment of Centre Court, eight litres of fresh air is pumped into the bowl to manage the environment, per person, per second.

Membership of the All England Club cannot be bought: It requires four existing members, who a candidate must know for at least three years each, to write separate letters of recommendation before he can even be put on a waiting list. Even then, there is no guarantee of being accepted.

The only sure way of bagging a place? Wimbledon Champions are granted honorary memberships.

So, if Andy Murray wants to be a member at one of the world's most exclusive clubs, he’s going to have to earn it.