| 1878 Wimbledon Championship | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 15 – 20 July | |||
| Edition | 2nd | |||
| Category | Grand Slam | |||
| Surface | Grass | |||
| Location | Worple Road SW19,Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom | |||
| Venue | All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club | |||
| Champions | ||||
| Singles | ||||
 Frank Hadow | ||||
| ||||
The1878 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at theAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club inWimbledon,London,United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 15 July until 20 July. It was the 2nd staging of theWimbledon Championships, and the firstGrand Slam tennis event of 1878. There were 34 competitors, excludingSpencer Gore who as champion was not required to participate until the best of the challengers had won the All comers' final.[1] The winner of the All Comers' final wasFrank Hadow, a planter fromCeylon who was on leave in Britain. He defeatedRobert Erskine, a friend of the family who had enticed him to participate in the championship, in straight sets 6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[2] On 18 July 1878 Hadow defeated reigning champion Spencer Gore in three sets, 7–5, 6–1, 9–7 before a crowd of about 700 spectators.[3][4] Hadow effectively introduced the tactic of lobbing to counter Gore's volleying game.[2][5]
The height of the net was reduced from 5 feet (1.5 m) at the posts and 3 feet 3 inches (0.99 m) in the middle to 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m) at the posts and 3 feet (0.91 m) in the middle.[1] The distance of the service line from the net was reduced from 26 feet (7.9 m) to 22 feet (6.7 m).Arthur Myers was the first player to serve over hand.[6]
Frank Hadow defeatedSpencer Gore, 7–5, 6–1, 9–7[7]
Frank Hadow defeatedRobert Erskine, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4[1]
| Preceded by | Grand Slams | Succeeded by |