There is no question that Aussies love Wimbledon.
And they especially love their Championships history. There is, after all, so much of it here, where many Australian legends grace the Rolls of Honour.
Some were in attendance on Friday evening at the annual Tennis Australia barbecue that has become a tradition of its own over the years, staged just a stone's throw from the All England Club.
Neale Fraser, who won titles across three events at The Championships, was a notable guest at the 2023 event. He lifted the gentlemen's singles trophy in 1960, as well as the gentlemen's doubles alongside partner Roy Emerson in 1959 and 1961, and the mixed doubles with Margaret DuPont in 1962.
"It is 70 years since I played my first match at Wimbledon," said the now 89-year-old, who recalled making a first trip to The Championships with fellow Australian players Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, Lew Hoad, Mervyn Rose, Rex Hartwig and Ashley Cooper.
"I used to photograph everything at Wimbledon and in the city thinking that I would never come back again. Little did I know that I would come back 60 more times.”
Judy Dalton, runner-up to Billie Jean King in the ladies' singles final in 1968, was also in attendance and spoke of her role in the Original 9 group who helped form the WTA Tour.
“People all thought that we were signing because of the money aspect of it but it was for recognition and for women to have an opportunity ... and to form a union where all the players could be together,” Dalton said.
They were joined at the barbecue by several other Australians who had lifted trophies at Wimbledon.
The elite group included the 84-year-old Fred Stolle, a three-time singles finalist and winner of five Wimbledon doubles titles throughout the 1960s (two gentleman’s doubles, three mixed doubles).
Liz Smylie spoke of the inspiration she’d gained from other Australian champions on her journey to claim two Wimbledon titles (the 1985 ladies doubles with America's Kathy Jordan and 1991 mixed doubles with compatriot John Fitzgerald).
Todd Woodbridge also shared some happy memories from a spectacular Wimbledon career, which included nine gentlemen’s doubles titles and one in mixed doubles, in a special night for Australian tennis.
New this year:
See the draw like never before, with interactive Path to the Final view of the draw by clicking a player’s name on the draws page
See the projected Path to the Final of every player in the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ singles draws with IBM Likely to Play
View how favourable or difficult a player's draw is, with IBM AI Draw Analysis
