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Evening on the first Friday of the 2004 championships
At 2.40pm on Day Seven (Monday 28 June) of the 2010 Championships, the one-millionth numbered Wimbledon queue card was handed out to Rose Stanley from South Africa. Queue cards were introduced in 2003 and have been numbered sequentially since so people didn't need to wait in an actual line - this decision meant that people can potentially collect a queue card, then go home to 'queue'. The All-England Club take a strange stance on queueing. They do not endorse overnight queueing however, they provide toilet and water facilities for people who do camp overnight. Should a camper be successful in obtaining a ticket, the Club also provides unattendded baggage storage where items not allowed into the grounds (including camping equipment such as tents) can be left while matches are in progress. The Gentlemen's Singles champion receives a silver gilt cup 18.5 inches (about 47 cm) in height and 7.5 inches (about 19 cm) in diameter. The trophy has been awarded since 1887 and bears the inscription: "All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Championship of the World." The Ladies' Singles champion receives a sterling silver salver commonly known as the "Venus Rosewater Dish", or simply the "Rosewater Dish". The salver, which is 18.75 inches (about 48 cm) in diameter, is decorated with figures from
Trophies and prize money
mythology. The winners of the Gentlemen's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events receive silver cups. The runner-up in each event receives an inscribed silver plate. The trophies are usually presented by the President of the All England Club, The Duke of Kent. Prize money was first awarded in 1968, the first year that professional players were allowed to compete in the Championships. Prior to 2007, Wimbledon and the other major tennis tournaments awarded more prize money in men's events than in women's events. In 2007, Wimbledon changed this policy, giving the same money for both events. This was despite the fact that men play two thirds more sets than women at the tournament and thus now earn far less per hour than their female counterparts.