10 Greatest Wimbledon Champions Of All Time

The Wimbledon Championships are the Mecca for all tennis professionals, proving why it is the most coveted Grand Slam in the tennis calendar. Since its inauguration in 1877, Wimbledon has consistently attracted the world's greatest players to SW19 all hoping to be crowned champion. The history of the prestigious event cannot be underestimated, making it the highlight of the tennis calendar each and every year. For the majority of its 128 championships, Wimbledon played host to tennis' greatest amateur players, including former British three-time champion Fred Perry and all-round tennis legend Rod Laver. Due to its immense popularity, commercial pressures and rumours of amateurs taking money under the table, the Wimbledon Championships entered the open era in 1968. This is heralded as the birth of modern, professional tennis and was the first time that players could legitimately earn a living from their sport. Since then the grass courts of Wimbledon have been graced by the greatest players in the world, all entertaining the capacity crowds for the two-week tournament. SW19 has been the place where stars such as Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova have announced themselves onto the world stage before going on to enjoy long and illustrious careers. Although seen as an inherently British event, with strawberry's and cream being the food of choice at Wimbledon, British players have often struggled at the event. The open era has seen just three British singles champions; Ann Haydon Jones and Virginia Wade in the women's, and Andy Murray in the men's. Despite frequent British heartache and disappointment the adoring fans at Wimbledon have been treat to some spectacular matches over the years featuring the finest players in grass court tennis. Although tough to choose, this article will run through the five greatest men's and women's champions that Wimbledon has ever seen in the open era.