The 4 Best Players In Wimbledon History You Should Know

In what ways can a tennis player be considered a "star" at Wimbledon? Although winning tennis titles at Wimbledon is arguably the best measure of stardom, there are other factors to consider. Such a subjective ranking is sometimes influenced by longevity and popularity. There is also an increase in exposure and talent these days, explaining why recent players are regarded as the best players in Wimbledon history. In addition, the place in the history of a player at Wimbledon contributes to the level of star quality that they exhibit.

1. Rod Laver

In the 1960s, if Rod Laver had not been banned from making major matches following his professional transition in 1962, he would have set a record for men's major matches that remains undetected by modern-day greats Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. However, Laver still won 11 Major titles, including four Wimbledon Singles titles. As an amateur, he won the first two during the 1960s, before the crisis, and the last two at the end, marking the end of the era when tennis once again became fully professional. He is easily one of the best players in Wimbledon history.

When he won Wimbledon in 1962 and 1969, he – true to both amateurs and professionals – played a part in achieving a Calendar Grand Slam. Many people today refer to every Major as a “Grand Slam,” despite its original being used in the same year to describe winning all four major tournaments in the same year. 

2. Bjorn Borg

A remarkable five-title run by Björn Borg during the second half of the 1970s made him seem immortal. It was in 1980 that he won his fifth and final world title, beating John McEnroe, an event that once was regarded as one of the greatest matches in tennis history, in particular on the grass, but was ultimately eclipsed by the incredible match between Nadal and Federer in 2008.

Tennis in the 21st century, as it were, lasts longer, and the world itself is smaller. The availability of instant, digital communication makes it easier for players to assess their abilities when playing tennis on three different surfaces: hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts. The 1970s, however, were different. Borg was a champion of Wimbledon in the second half of the decade, and from 1974-1981, he won six French Open titles there. As long as Britain had been characterized as “Wimbledon fans” rather than “tennis fans,” and when it came to SW19, no one noticed Borg was equally dominant on clay.

It is, therefore, likely an achievement that appears even more incredible now than it did at the time, given that both tournaments were significantly separated over a fortnight or even a week, rather than how much it seemed at the time.

3. Venus Williams

At the All England Club, Williams played her best tennis for most of her career, making her one of the best players in Wimbledon history. The tennis player overcame Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport to win her first title in 2000, beating No. 1 and 2. When Williams won her third and fourth Wimbledon titles, her championship mettle was best demonstrated.

The 2005 Wimbledon event came with Williams ranked No. 16 and seeded 14th all year long after losing the Australian Open and French Open. Her victory at Wimbledon was her first time over two top players, starting with Maria Sharapova, who was ranked 2 in the semifinals, and then beating Lindsay Davenport in the final.

After two seasons of injury-wracked performances, Williams entered Wimbledon ranked 31st and seeded 23rd. As a result of playing against little-known opponents in the tournament's first week, she struggled. After losing her first two matches, she dominated the second round, winning three matches from the top six players. In winning her second Wimbledon championship, Williams became the lowest-seeded player in history.

Williams won five of her seven Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon. Despite her incomplete proficiency on all surfaces, Venus Williams has the ability to win the Wimbledon championship over anyone on grass.

4. Roger Federer

Among the greatest players in history, Roger Federer holds the record for most titles, and many ranking systems mention him as the greatest player of all time. In his early twenties, Federer dominated Wimbledon in the 2000s, winning five consecutive championships in a row, tied to Bjorn Borg's record. Federer never lost a match at Wimbledon until Rafael Nadal defeated him in 2008. In the end, Federer lost his 40-match winning streak at Wimbledon, and his 65-match winning streak on grass ended with a loss of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7.

For almost a decade, Federer was virtually unbeatable on grass thanks to his powerful groundstrokes, net play, consistent serving, and deft touch. The beginning of Federer's dominance at Wimbledon took place in 2003, with Federer losing none of his final four matches. 

A second victory by Federer against Nadal followed in 2007 final. However, Nadal turned the tables in 2008, ending Federer's long-running streak. As Federer won the 2017 Wimbledon title, he beat Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in the tournament's final rounds, perhaps his most impressive Wimbledon performance. A world-class player, Federer is known for his fluidity of play, making him versatile on all types of surfaces. As a result, he is unmatched when it comes to grass courts.

“Wimbledon was always my favorite tournament and will always be my favorite tournament,” the Swiss said after winning his title in 2017. “My heroes walked the grounds here and walked the courts here. Because of them, I think I became a better player, too. So to make history here at Wimbledon really means a lot to me, just because of all of that, really. It’s that simple.”

Conclusion

The only Grand Slam event played on grass is Wimbledon. It is one of the four grand slam tournaments held annually. It has hosted many fine players through the years, particularly during the Open Era since 1968. A player's ranking is primarily determined by the number of Wimbledon singles titles they have won while also considering the quality of the opposition, the dominance they have exhibited at Wimbledon, and the reputation of the player as a whole. The list of the best players in Wimbledon history was evaluated based on factors that made them special.