31/08/2026
Looking through our archive... 🗓️
One of the longest-running events at OVO Arena Wembley was the Indoor Professional Lawn Tennis Championships, from its opening year in 1934 until 1990, the former Empire Pool and Sports Arena hosted tournaments considered to be one of the three major tennis championships until the advent of the global ‘open’ circuit, attracting some of the world’s best players.
Introduced by Wembley Stadium Limited, the original concept was of an ‘invitation only’ competition, but in truth only booking the biggest names would sell tickets. Attempts to sign up Fred Perry, the British player who had won the 1934-35-36 Wimbledon titles, saw Wembley boss Arthur Elvin send his press chief, Harold David, chasing the champion across America. David missed Perry and his playing partner Ellesworth Vines in Los Angeles, was turned down by them in San Francisco, Vancouver and Portland, finally buying their 1937 attendance on a golf course in Denver.
The first tournament in 1934 saw competitors compete for a winner’s prize of £250, and it was such a hit that in 1935 a prize pot of ‘at least £2500’ was available based on a player’s progress, along with the title of the ‘Professional Indoor Champion of the World’.
By 1958 the tournament had come under the auspices of the Lawn Tennis Association with prize money for the twelve competitors, still all-male, set at £1000 for the winner and £25 for first round losers.
In May 1968 a ladies’ competition, including Billie Jean King, a great tennis equality campaigner, was held at the arena for the first time. Previously the women’s game was limited to exhibition matches, but the competition was discontinued after 1971 as sponsorship issues and the growing ‘open’ circuit limited player availability.
Over the intervening years, various sponsors renamed what was initially Wembley’s tournament, while tennis legends including Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl all served up Wembley titles, without that other British tennis essential - rain.
Thank you Wembley Archive for this post.
