Ladies’ singles events were first introduced at Wimbledon in 1884. The competition was added seven years after the inaugural 1877 Championships, which had featured only the gentlemen’s singles event.
The first Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles tournament attracted 13 competitors. Maud Watson defeated her older sister, Lilian Watson, in the final to become the inaugural champion. The match was played at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club’s original grounds on Worple Road, before Wimbledon moved to its present Church Road site.
The 1884 Championships also introduced the gentlemen’s doubles competition. Women’s doubles and mixed doubles did not become part of Wimbledon’s regular lineup until 1913, so the modern tournament structure developed gradually rather than appearing all at once.
The year can be confused with 1877, the date of Wimbledon’s first Championships, or with 1913, when the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events were added. For ladies’ singles specifically, 1884 is the accepted answer.