The best of Wimbledon

To most tennis fans Wimbledon is the greatest of the four tennis grand slams. Every year the best players from around the world converge on SW19 to play on grass at the tournament with more history than any other.

My selection of great moments at Wimbledon has, inevitably, something of a recency bias. My first vague memories of the Championships date back to the early 70s when the sport was becoming professional and games were starting to be broadcast in colour. Over the last 50 or so years we’ve seen tennis players who can be ranked amongst the greatest sportsmen of all time in any sport, incredible duels between players of different styles and characters, and even the advent of a more unusual phenomenon, British players who win.  

See what you think of my selection. Whether you agree or disagree hopefully reading this will bring back some happy memories.

8. Wade vs Stove – Women’s Final 1977

Since the end of the Williams era (Venus and Serena), the ladies singles at Wimbledon has become a very open event. In fact, at time of writing (2025), there have been eight different winners in the last eight years. It was not always like this.

In the mid 70s and early 80s, there were three women who ruled the roost and gave anyone else barely a look-in – Billie Jean King with three wins, Chris Evert with another three and Martina Navratilova who ended up with nine. Evonne Goolagong managed to break the monopoly with two wins, but the only other player to do so was Britain’s Virginia Wade. That she did so in Queen Elizabeth’s silver jubilee year of 1977, that was also the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the Wimbledon Championships added lustre to what was anyway a superb achievement.

Wade was a proven major winner, with two titles in the bag already, the US Open of 1968 and the Australian Open of 1972. She had first competed at Wimbledon as a 16-yr old, and although her performance arc was upwards, as she embarked upon her 16^th attempt in 1977 she was yet to appear in the final.

In 1977, she made her way to the semi-final without the loss of a set, but here she came face to face with number one seed and reigning champion Chris Evert. This was Wade’s best match of the tournament. The first two sets were shared but in the third, Wade’s relentless drive to dominate the net started to get to Evert and the American lost her usually impeccable baseline game. Wade ran away with the set 6-1 to reach her first final.

In the final she faced Betty Stove of the Netherlands. Stove, a high-class doubles player, had surprised many by beating Navratilova in the quarters, then disappointed many by besting home favourite Sue Barker in the semis. Could she inflict similar disappointment in the final?

The crowd was overwhelmingly behind Wade, but she displayed signs of nerves in the first set, losing it 6-4 to the Netherlander. Watching the game now, it seems to be played in slow motion. Wade was the more dynamic, always attacking the net; Stove a less fluid mover but talented stroke maker, staying at the baseline, trying to draw Wade into a position where she can pass or lob. After the first set, Wade began to take control of the game, still aggressively coming to the net, but also moving her less athletic opponent more around the court. She actually won the second and third sets relatively comfortably (6-3 and 6-1) and saw herself to a famous win.

It was not, in truth, a classic match, but the trophy presentation was unforgettable. Queen Elizabeth II made a rare appearance at the event to pass over the Venus Rosewater Dish and a special centenary silver salver to Wade. When Wade held the trophy up to the crowd, their response was ecstatic. 48 years on we await the next British women’s winner, and it may well be a few years more before we see one.

7. Murray vs Djokovic, Men’s Final 2013

No selection of the best of Wimbledon can pass without recalling the end of 77 ‘years of hurt’ in 2013. British men’s tennis had been in the doldrums for many years, but started on an upward trajectory in the late 1990s with the emergence of Tim Henman and the adoption of Greg Rusedski. Neither of these was able to make the final step (although Henman came terribly close with four semi-finals) but Henman’s successor as British number one looked made of sterner stuff.

Andy Murray was a man for whom winning was everything, and for whom the term ‘plucky loser’ would have been the ultimate insult. He had been focused enough at 15 to leave home for a tennis academy in Spain, and had soon proved that his game was of the highest standard. He made the world top 10 by age 19 and started showing well in Grand Slams. He also developed a reputation as somewhat volatile, who unlike the calm and ever-polite Henman, was a supremely sore loser.

At Wimbledon there was a thought that, like Henman, he might never quite scale the peak. A quarter final in 2008 was followed by three successive semis, then the final in 2012. Nadal put him out in the semis three times, then in his first final he came up against the genius of Roger Federer. His defeat in that year’s final was his fourth in a Grand Slam without any wins. Surprisingly, though, his painful loss proved a springboard to success. He rode a wave of patriotism to avenge himself against Federer in the Olympic final then won his first major at the 2012 US Open against Djokovic.

In 2013 he was assisted by shock early round defeats for both Nadal and Federer. That still left the indefatigable Djokovic and the two duly made their way to the final. The Serb had come through an epic five-set semi-final over Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro (in 4 hours 43 minutes) that had perhaps taken its toll on him. Murray may have been a little fresher and got off to a great start winning the first two sets. In the third it became all about which player could hold their serve. Murray broke Djokovic first, then lost his own serve twice, before breaking back twice more to lead 5-4 and serve for the Championship. It wasn’t quite as nervy as Ivanisevic against Rafter, but Murray stuttered with the finishing tape in sight. From 40-0 he saw three Championship points dissolve then found himself facing three separate break points. He fought them off then took himself to fourth match point where a netted backhand from Djokovic saw the Scotsman to the title. 77 years after Fred Perry, Britain finally had a men’s champion again. 

6. Isner vs Mahut – Mens 1^st round 2010

In most sports, there comes a point when an ‘unbreakable’ world record gets broken. Jack Nicklaus’s 18 Majors, Jonathan Edwards 18.29m triple jump, AP McCoy’s 4,358 winners, Tom Brady’s 7 Super Bowls … there may come a time when any or all of these are broken. One record, though, that will never be broken, and would never have been broken even had the rules not been changed is that of the longest tennis game ever played.

The statistics of the first round match played between John Isner of the USA and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut are so ridiculous that you would think they were made up. In short:

• The most games in a match – 183 including the final set of 70-68 which in itself would have been longer than the previous longest match
• The longest time taken – 11 hours 5 minutes
• The most aces served – Isner 113, Mahut 103 (Isner also holds the record for the most in the tournament at 214 in 2018)

There’s little that hasn’t already been said about the match but a recent Times article (https://www.thetimes.com/sport/tennis/article/john-isner-nicolas-mahut-longest-tennis-match-wimbledon-5cgd3gpdk) shed some light on the ‘peripheral’ players in this drama.

One such was Ronald McIntosh, then at the BBC, a boxing specialist for whom this was his first ever tennis commentary, a supposedly low key game on which to cut his teeth. He stayed with the match all the way on the never-ending second day without a food or toilet break. Another was film journalist, Xan Brooks from the Guardian who was penning the newspaper’s live blog. His postings became increasingly outlandish as he tried to inject some humour into proceedings, for example, “In order to keep their strength Isner and Mahut have now started eating members of the audience. They trudge back to the baseline, gnawing on thigh bones and sucking intestines”. This was at ‘only’ 34-34. And match referee Mohamed Lahyani, who stayed in his chair for seven hours solid on the second day as he did not want to disturb the flow of the game.

You will doubtless be pleased to know that the game has now finished. Oh, and Isner won, 70-68 in the fifth.

5. Connors vs Pernfors – Men’s 4^th round 1987

Jimmy Connors is one of the all-time greats of mens tennis. Ranked number one for almost five years at his peak, he won more titles, played more matches and won more matches than any other player … ever.  His eight Grand Slams included two Wimbledons, one a demolition of Ken Rosewall in 1974, the other a full eight years later, an epic and unexpected victory over John McEnroe.

He was, obviously, a player of great skill and talent, but his strongest attribute was his extreme competitiveness. He was the ultimate never-say-die player, always prepared to push himself to his limits to beat the guy on the other side of the net.

Never was this seen to greater effect than in his fourth round match in 1987 against Swede Mikael Pernfors. Connors was by then 34 years old, and although his best years were behind him, he was still good enough to be seeded seven in the tournament. Pernfors, 10 years Connors’ junior, had surprisingly reached the previous year’s French Open final (the only time he would get past the first round of that tournament) but was unseeded and most observers expected Connors to roll him over.

The predictions could not have been more wrong. Connors seemed completely out of touch, and an inspired Pernfors romped through the first two sets – 6-1 6-1. When the Swede went 4-1 up in the third set the game looked well and truly up for the two-time champion. In sight of the line, though, Pernfors tightened up, whilst Connors with nothing to lose came out swinging. Out of nowhere the American won three games to love to get back to 4-4 then went on to take the set 7-5. In the fourth he came back from 0-3 down to win 6-4, then he won the fifth 6-2, despite a break against him. After 3 hours and 37 minutes he had achieved one of the greatest comebacks ever.

4. Novotna vs Tauziat – Women’s Final 1998

When Czech player Jana Novotna lost to Steffi Graf in the 1993 final, her heartbroken reaction produced one of the most emotional scenes ever on Centre Court. 4-1 up in the final set to the great Steffi Graf, her game had collapsed with the win in sight, and her tears at the prize-giving presentation reflected her devastation at throwing it away.

When she lost again to Martina Hingis in 1997, after romping to the first set, it looked as though she was destined never to win the Championship. A talented stroke player, it seemed as though Novotna lacked the mental resolve to clinch the victory on grass that many felt she deserved.

Another chance came very soon. The following year, 1998, she arrived at the tournament as third seed. After a superb win in the semi-final against her nemesis and top seed, Martina Hingis, she found herself strong favourite in the final against the ‘veteran’, Natalie Tauziat. The Frenchwoman, 30, had never previously been past the quarter final in any major, and grass was not considered her best surface.

Novotna, a big favourite with the fans as well as the bookmakers, seemed determined to put her supporters through the mill. A nervy start meant she went 2-0 and 15-40 down to begin the match. This, though, seemed to kick her into action, and she came through to win the first set 6-4. She then eased to 5-4 in the second and served for the match. Again, she faltered to lose her serve, and the thought among everyone must have been ‘here we go again’. Mercifully, she recovered her sangfroid and dominated the tiebreak to capture the title.

There were fewer tears than 1993, but this time they were tears of joy. A superb doubles player, she won 12 majors, including at least two at each Grand Slam, but nothing can have meant more to her than her singles triumph of 1998.

3. Ivanisevic vs Rafter – Men’s Final 2001

In 2001 Goran Ivanisevic was widely considered to be washed up as a tennis player. Once ranked number two in the world, the Croatian had not won a title for over three years and had dropped out of the world’s top 100. A shoulder injury had reduced the potency of his principal weapon, his left-handed serve, and he was playing at Wimbledon courtesy only of a wild card. Despite his poor recent form, the wild card was warranted – Ivanisevic was the great nearly man of the tournament – three times a finalist, three times a loser, twice in five-set heartbreakers.

His form during the tournament was a revelation. After beating a qualifier in the first round he beat 21^st seed Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski and 4^th seed Marat Safin on his way to a semi-final against home favourite, Tim Henman. Henman had never previously lost to Ivanisevic and felt he could read the Croat’s serve. The first two sets were shared before Henman blitzed Ivanisevic in the third – 6-0 in only 14 minutes. At 2-1 up in the fourth all the momentum was with the Briton, but then the heavens opened. The centre court roof had not yet been built so play was postponed for the day. By the time they reconvened the following day, Ivanisevic was a different player and managed to capture the fourth set on a tie-break. There was then another rain delay. The match was eventually completed on the Sunday, 45 hours after it had started, and Ivanisevic came through to win. There is little doubt that Henman would have won had the match not been disturbed.

The final, played on a Monday after all the tournament rain delays, was against Australian Pat Rafter, the previous year’s beaten finalist. The Monday finish meant that thousands of Croats and Aussies managed to get tickets so the atmosphere was raucous. The fans witnessed a roller-coaster. Ivanisevic took the first set, Rafter the second then they repeated the act. Two sets all and the two players were into a final decisive set.

It went with serve until the fifteenth game when Rafter was broken to 15. Surely the next game, with Ivanisevic serving, would be a formality. It wasn’t. The Croat, overcome with nerves, played like he had just learned the game. Three double faults were as bad as any seen on centre court. He gave away three Championship points, two with desperate errors. When he finally somehow managed to string together a couple of decent points and got over the line he was overcome with emotion. The 250-1 outsider and serial runner-up had won the trophy of his dreams.

2. Federer vs Nadal – Men’s Final 2008

The rivalry between the big three in men’s tennis illuminated the game for more than a decade following their emergence in the mid 2000s. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are arguably the three greatest players in the game ever, and they were all around at the same time. They played against each other in the grand slams 49 times, of which 23 were in finals. So many of their matches were epics that it seems invidious to pick out only one but as the 2008 Wimbledon final is rated by many tennis experts to be the greatest ever, we’ve selected it for this list.

By 2008. Nadal was already dominating the French Open, with four consecutive titles and Federer was dominating pretty much everything else. The Swiss already had three Australian Open titles, four US Opens and five consecutive Wimbledon Championships in his trophy cabinet. If he was hard to beat on hard courts, he looked utterly unbeatable on the grass of SW19.

If anyone was going to stop Federer it was the inexhaustible Mallorcan. Nadal had made the two previous Wimbledon finals and had pushed Federer close in both. He got off to a great start in the 2008 final by winning a superb 14-stroke rally. He went on to win the set 6-4, then captured the second 6-4 having come back from 1-4 down. With the score 3-3 in the third Nadal had three break points on Federer’s serve. A break would probably have been decisive, but Federer was not going to relinquish his grip on the title that easily, and fought back to hold. He went on to win the third set tie-break to take the game into a fourth set. This, too, went to a tie-break and looked very much to be going Nadal’s way. At 5-2 and on Nadal’s serve it looked all over, but Federer once again had other ideas. Producing great passing shots under the utmost pressure, Federer managed to take the match into a final set.

The final set was full of drama, but serve was held until the 15^th game of the set. Finally, Nadal broke Federer to leave himself one service game away from his first Championship. Even this game was not straightforward, going to deuce before Nadal produced a superb first serve then Federer netted a forehand for Nadal to prevail. At 9:15pm, in near darkness, one of the greatest matches in tennis history was over.

1. Borg vs McEnroe – Men’s Final 1980

When Bjorn Borg met John McEnroe in the gentleman’s singles final in 1980 it was a match that really grabbed the world’s attention. The contrast of personalities and styles was extreme. Borg was ‘the iceman’, emotional impenetrable and cool in any situation;  McEnroe was volatile, angry at anybody and everybody (including himself) and always seemingly on the edge of an outburst. Borg was more of a baseliner (albeit this was something of a caricature – all players came to the net far more than in the present day), who returned everything with interest and wore his opponents down with accuracy and power;  McEnroe was the serve and volleyer, a creative artist who frequently produced the unexpected and used his racket like a wizard uses a wand. Borg was the defending champion, heading for his fifth Wimbledon title in a row;  McEnroe was the coming man, already with one Grand Slam (the 1979 US Open) but as yet no Wimbledon title to his name. Seeded one and two for the tournament, Borg was still only 24 years old, McEnroe three years younger at 21.

Borg had made his way serenely to his fifth final in a row with only two sets dropped in six matches. McEnroe’s progress had been a little more testing, with a big scare in round two against the unfancied (and largely unremembered) Australian Terry Rocavert, then a feisty semi-final against Jimmy Connors. Although he had yet to produce his infamous ‘you cannot be serious’ line, McEnroe had had a series of angry confrontations with officials in his semi-final win and had alienated a sizeable proportion of the conservative Wimbledon faithful.

The final lived up to all expectations. McEnroe started like a greyhound out of the traps and stunned Borg by racing into a 6-1 lead. He served well, volleyed with his trademark brilliance and produced a dazzling array of passing shots, lobs and drop shots. Borg though came back strongly and seemed to have worked out his opponent. Reading McEnroe’s serve better and finding his range on his own groundstrokes, he did enough to undermine McEnroe’s game plan and win the second and third sets. The game seemed up for the American when Borg broke in the fourth set and served for the match at 5-4. At 40-15 Borg had two Championship points on his own serve.

Perhaps Borg tightened up a little. On the other side of the net, McEnroe produced some stunning passing shots and contrived to win four points in a row to break the Swede’s serve. Two service holds later and we were into the tie break to end all tie breaks. Each had several chances to clinch it. Borg had five more match points that he again failed to convert; McEnroe alternated between brilliance and mediocrity, coming up with great winners when behind but unforced errors when on top. Eventually, after 20 minutes of the highest drama, McEnroe produced a series of winning volleys and passing shots to win 18-16.

After the tie-break the final set was arguably a bit of an anti-climax. Both players held serve until the American cracked in the 14^th game. Borg’s powerful returns and groundstrokes put the American’s volleying under pressure before a double-handed backhand passing shot clinched his fifth successive title.

McEnroe did not have to wait long for his revenge. Two months later, he beat Borg on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows in the US Open, then in 1981 he turned the tables on Borg at Wimbledon.  When McEnroe beat Borg once again in the 1981 US Open final, it precipitated the surprise retirement of the Swede. He was only 25 years old.