The very first Wimbledon Championship was in 1877 when it was watched by some 200 spectators. In 1999 it was broadcast to 174 countries, with an estimated global audience of 1 billion people. British Player Greg Rusedski has the world's fastest serve, clocked at a staggering 149 mph. In 1999 he served 685 aces, accounting for 79% of all his points for the year. Slazenger has provided every tennis ball for The Championships Wimbledon since 1902. Tennis Equipment has changed drastically over the years. Early wooden rackets were replaced with graphite alternatives and the very last wooden racket used in a Championship was at Wimbledon in 1988. Tennis fashions have changed over the years too. Bunny Austin was the first man to ever wear a pair of shorts on court at Wimbledon in 1933. Conversely, Yvon Petra was the last champion to ever wear long trousers on court in 1946. Women's fashions have caused a similar stir. When Gussie Moran wore a short, lace trimmed skirt in 1949 she was accused by the AELTC of 'bringing vulgarity and sin into tennis' Quite a contrast to the revealing clothing sported by today's women players! Pete Sampras is the tennis world's record breaker. He has now won 12 Grand Slam titles and his tennis career has earned him in excess of £38 Million. Sampras has won Wimbledon 6 times, just one behind the current record holder William Renshaw (1881-1889). He also holds the record for the longest unbroken run. Between June and August last year he won 24 matches in succession.