Homeowners advised to take cover during Wimbledon

As Wimbledon 2009 hits our TV screens this week, many UK tennis fans caught up in the frenzy are eager to get outside and display their racquet skills, expert or otherwise! Halifax Home Insurance typically sees a rise in home insurance claims for broken windows and other accidental glass breakages during Wimbledon, with claims increasing by around a third (34%) in June last year compared to last January's claims data.

Head of Underwriting for Halifax Home Insurance, David Rochester said: "During the summer months we often notice an increase in claims for broken windows and other accidental breakages. We'd advise any budding Murrays and Sharapovas to take care when playing ball sports close to home, and check they are insured for accidental damage should a mishap occur."

According to Halifax claims data, people in Ipswich had the most smashing time last year, claiming most frequently for broken glass and windows. Those in Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth - near Dunblane where British No1 Andy Murray is from - were next, and perhaps indicating 'the Murray Effect', four of the top ten smashing places in the UK were in his home country of Scotland.

Top ten 'smashing' places in the UK

1 Ipswich
2 Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth
3 Glasgow
4 Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine
5 Luton
6 South Ulster
7 Bromley & Bexley
8 Lancaster
9 Canterbury
10 Slough

Source: Halifax Home Insurance 2009 (Number of claims weighted against policies in force).

Wimbledon 2009 starts on Monday June 22nd with its nail-biting final taking place on Centre Court on July 5th. It attracts around 35,000 spectators a day, not to mention the 1.8m viewers who will watch it on TV. The tournament has a long history which began in 1877. Since then, Wimbledon Mania has gradually spread across the globe, with players from over 60 nations now competing in front of millions through television, radio, press and internet coverage.

Wimbledon Tennis Trivia

The current Men's Singles Champion is Rafael Nadal, who beat five times winner Roger Federer in an historic final match last year.

With doubts over whether Nadal will be fit to play, Scottish born Andy Murray is tipped to become the next British Wimbledon men's final winner this year.

This year Venus Williams may score a hat-trick to win the Women's Singles title for a third year.

There were 22 entries for the first ever men's championship.

2009 marks the year of Fred Perry's 100th birthday.

The first ever Wimbledon winner was Spencer Gore in 1877.

Women were not permitted to enter Wimbledon until 1884.