Wimbledon: Celebrating Pivotal Moments in Tennis History
LONDON (AP) — This year, Wimbledon commemorates several notable anniversaries that celebrate pivotal moments in tennis history.
Historic Achievements
In 1975, Wimbledon witnessed a groundbreaking achievement when Arthur Ashe triumphed over Jimmy Connors, becoming the first and only Black man to capture the singles title at the renowned tournament with a score of 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4. That same year, Billie Jean King clinched her sixth and final singles title at the esteemed All England Club, dominating Evonne Goolagong 6-0, 6-1. King’s victory marked her 19th of 20 total titles at Wimbledon across all events, solidifying her legendary status in the sport.
Fast forward to 1980, when Bjorn Borg accomplished an extraordinary feat by securing his fifth consecutive Wimbledon trophy in a legendary showdown against John McEnroe, ending with scores of 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7 (16), 8–6. This match is often referred to as one of the greatest in tennis history, particularly famed for its grueling fourth-set tiebreaker, dubbed The War of 1816.
Memorable Moments
Five years later, in 1985, Anne White caused quite a stir at Wimbledon when she arrived for her match against Pam Shriver wearing a full white bodysuit. The outfit drew criticism despite adhering to the tournament’s strict all-white dress code. After splitting the first two sets, play was suspended due to darkness, and White was informed she would need to change into more traditional attire for the continuation of the match, which ultimately saw Shriver emerge victorious.
The 1990 finals saw Martina Navratilova achieve her remarkable ninth Wimbledon title, beating Zina Garrison 6-4, 6-1. This victory also marked her 18th Grand Slam title, tying her with Chris Evert for the Open era record.
On the 25th anniversary of 2000, Pete Sampras battled Patrick Rafter to win his seventh and final Wimbledon title, with a score of 6–7 (10), 7–6 (5), 6–4, 6–2. This victory also secured his 13th Grand Slam title, a record he held until surpassed by the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Record-Setting Matches
2010 marked an extraordinary moment in tennis history when John Isner and Nicolas Mahut engaged in an epic contest that lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, spanning three days at Wimbledon. This match set the record for the longest match ever played, with Isner finally winning the fifth set 70-68. The extraordinary length of this match led to new regulations for tiebreakers in prolonged sets across all Grand Slam tournaments.
In 2015, Serena Williams achieved her second “Serena Slam,” capturing four major titles consecutively (albeit not within a single calendar year) by winning Wimbledon against Garbiñe Muguruza. Williams, at age 33, became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era. Her win set the stage for her attempt at a true Grand Slam at the 2015 U.S. Open, though she fell short against Roberta Vinci in a stunning semifinal upset.
Unprecedented Challenges
Finally, just five years ago in 2020, the tournament faced an unprecedented cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time since World War II that Wimbledon was not held. The announcement came during a nationwide lockdown in the UK, and Roger Federer expressed his sorrow succinctly with a post on social media, stating he was “Devastated.”
As Wimbledon reflects on these significant moments, the legacy of its past continues to influence the sport and its players today. Howard Fendrich has been reporting on tennis for the AP since 2002. For more tennis news, access AP’s dedicated coverage.
