The Ultimate Wimbledon 2016 Drinking Game

When was the last time you attended a really great Wimbledon party? We’re going to hazard a guess and say never. Posh and prestigious, the world’s oldest tennis tournament might temporarily inspire a spike in Pimm’s Cup orders, but rollicking parties? Not so much. We think that should change. So, to get the party started and take the edge off the infamously elitist British sporting event, we came up with a good old-fashioned drinking game.

Of course, we’re not saying you absolutely need to drink to enjoy the championship — there are plenty of reasons for tennis fans to watch (buzzed or not). The recent French Open proved challenging for several all-stars, with injuries hampering Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. As these old titans look to recover in London, young guns like Garbiñe Muguruza could unseat the established tennis royalty. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is chasing a calendar-year Grand Slam and his third straight Wimbledon crown.

But who are we kidding? Even if you are tennis nut, Wimbledon can get a little dull at times — and that’s where a drink comes in really handy. So invite some chums over, grab a beverage and settle down in front of telly with our Wimbledon drinking game.

Take a sip every time …

  • There is an ace or let
  • A commentator mispronounces a player or celebrity name
  • A player grunts gratuitously (think wild boar levels)
  • A ball boy or girl falls down, misses a ball or generally fails
  • A player challenges a ruling
  • A player wins a game
  • A commentator mentions a player’s age
  • A commentator mentions the French Open results
  • A commentator mentions a Big Four player not in the match

Take a big drink every time …

  • There is a double fault
  • A player wins a set
  • A player gets visibly upset over a call (snarls, tears, foreign swear words, etc.)
  • A player wins a challenge
  • The camera pans to a celebrity (extra big chug for royalty)
  • Someone mentions Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe or Andre Agassi
  • A commentator mentions his or her own glory days
  • A player lies down on the ground
  • A commentator uses British slang (example: Blimey, is he taking the mickey out of us with that shot? Lorries! Lifts! My car has a boot!)
  • A commentator mentions how Novak Djokovic could complete a calendar-year Grand Slam or earn his third straight Wimbledon crown
  • A commentator mentions Andy Murray’s issues with his trainers
  • A commentator compares Serena Williams to her sister Venus
  • Djokovic eats grass

Finish your drink if…

  • There’s a rain delay (pour a fresh drink and keep going if you’re waiting for the roof to close)
  • A player breaks a racquet
  • A player nails a shot from between the legs or behind the back
  • A player wins a match
  • The Queen shows up
  • The Queen’s corgis show up