AND THEY USE TIPP-EX, TOO

÷NINE tonnes of grass seed are used every year on the 41 courts (that’s 19 championship courts and 22 practice courts).

÷THERE are 16 permanent ground staff, increased to 30 during the championships, and 160 staff whose job is to put the covers on. Every night during the championships, ground crew patrol the covers.

÷IN Wimbledon fortnight, Centre Court will be trampled upon for about 77 hours of play. Over all 41 courts, the total is 3,177 hours.

÷ON CENTRE Court alone there are 54 million grass plants — around 432 million blades of grass.

÷ EACH year, 500 gallons are used to mark the lines on court. It’s not strictly paint, but a more durable white compound containing titanium dioxide, the same stuff that’s found in Tipp-Ex and toothpaste.