Wimbledon drops Miss and Mrs titles on female champion's board in modernisation bid

27 May 2022, 15:18

The board change will move it in line with the men's
The board change will move it in line with the men's. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Wimbledon will drop "Mrs" and "Miss" titles on its board of women's champions in a bid to modernise the tournament.

Female winners of the prestigious summer tournament have been listed as "Miss S. Williams" or "Miss S. Graf" while men have only been referred to by their initials, such as "N. Djokovic".

Married players who win the championship will also now be referred to by their own name, instead of their husband's.

This happened to Chris Evert, the former American number one who won Wimbledon in 1981.

Fans looking for her name on the winner's board will find only a "Mrs J.M. Lloyd" won it in 1981, with organisers having given Evert her husband's name.

The All England Club confirmed that it wanted to make the change as an update to an Open that is steeped in tradition, such as having long-held restrictions over wearing only white kit.

Sources told The Times that keeping the prefixes would be an "anachronism" in the modern era.

Read more: Wimbledon stripped of ATP ranking points after banning Russian and Belarusian players

Read more: 'Devastated' Martina Navratilova reduced to tears by Wimbledon ban on Russian players

Women have only been referred to with their prefix and even their husband's name, if married
Women have only been referred to with their prefix and even their husband's name, if married. Picture: Alamy

Wimbledon did not pay women and men equal prize money until 2007. The cash prize stood at £1.7m for the winner of the men's and women's tournament last year.

Previously, Wimbledon told umpires to stop referring to women players with their prefix, and instead refer to them by their surnames, as happens to their male counterparts.

Read more: Boris Becker: Downfall of a Wimbledon legend left relying on charity handouts

Earlier in May, Wimbledon was stripped of its ranking points after its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian after the invasion of Ukraine.

That decision upset some in the game, including Martina Navratilova, calling it the "wrong decision".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) demonstrate in Trafalgar Square

Woman who tried to gain asylum eight times allowed to stay in UK - after she joined terror group

Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton argues with Curtis Jones of Liverpool during the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool.

Merseyside Mayhem: Four red cards handed out as Everton score late equaliser in last-ever derby at Goodison Park

Crowd Of Commuters Walking To Work Across London Bridge.

UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.1% in last quarter of 2024, new figures show

Tranyelle Harshman, 32, of Wyoming, left her fourth daughter fighting for her life after going on a rampage at their home on Monday.

Mum-of-four shoots dead three young daughters before turning gun on herself

Speeding car approaching warning to slow down, on UK road

Shock figures reveal 'incredibly dangerous' speeding across UK - as one driver caught doing 122mph on 30mph road

Emergency services work near the scene of an explosion at a bar where a grenade was thrown, in Grenoble, on February 12, 2025.

At least 12 injured after man wielding assault rifle throws grenade into bar

Dorothy Chiles

Great-grandmother, 87, pictured for first time after deadly train station attack, as woman in her 20s arrested

President Donald Trump speaks on Wednesday night

Trump makes plans to meet Putin and end Ukraine war as he says 'the US wants its money back'

Exclusive
Katie Amess has spoken out about the need for an inquiry into her father's murder by an Islamist terrorist

Daughter of Sir David Amess, MP murdered by Islamist terrorist, ‘made to sign NDA’ on report into father’s death

Exclusive
Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Italian F1 Grand Prix - Previews

Nightclub bouncer behind £12m plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets jailed

Josef Fritzl

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could walk free from prison next year - and expects 'cheering crowds' to greet him

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver supports an extension to term times

'Time to think about school holidays': Ofsted's Chief Inspector supports extending term times

Exclusive
Angela Rayner insisted that British support for Ukraine was 'unwavering'

Rayner insists UK support for Ukraine 'unwavering' despite Trump's plan for 'immediate' peace talks with Putin

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin 'to meet in Saudi Arabia' and 'start negotiations immediately' to end war in Ukraine