Wimbledon Records: All-Time Leaders in Men's and Women's Singles
Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, founded in 1877. For over 140 years, The Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club have been the sport's highest stage. Here are the all-time records that define its remarkable history.
Tournament History
- Founded: 1877 (men's singles), 1884 (women's singles)
- Surface: Grass
- Location: Wimbledon, London, England
- Prize Money (2024): £50 million+ total
- Duration: Two weeks, late June to mid-July
- Boris Becker — 17 years old, 1985 (became youngest men's champion in history at the time)
- Michael Chang — Did not win Wimbledon (his French Open win at 17 was in Roland Garros)
- Lottie Dod — 15 years old, 1887 (oldest record in the books)
- Jennifer Capriati — Did not win Wimbledon
- Martina Hingis — 16 years old, 1997
- Federer: 65 consecutive Wimbledon matches from 2003 to 2008 (won 5 consecutive titles undefeated)
- Navratilova: 48 consecutive matches across her dominant 1980s stretch
- 1977: First year of equal prize money discussions begin
- 2007: Wimbledon became the last Grand Slam to introduce equal prize money for men and women
- 2024: £50+ million total prize fund
Men's Singles — Most Titles
| Player | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Federer | 8 | 2003–2012 |
| Pete Sampras | 7 | 1993–2000 |
| Novak Djokovic | 7 | 2011–2022 |
| William Renshaw | 7 | 1881–1889 |
| Bjorn Borg | 5 | 1976–1980 |
| Lawrence Doherty | 5 | 1902–1906 |
| John McEnroe | 3 | 1981–1984 |
| Boris Becker | 3 | 1985–1989 |
| Rafael Nadal | 2 | 2008, 2010 |
| Andy Murray | 2 | 2013, 2016 |
| Player | Titles | Years |
| Martina Navratilova | 9 | 1978–1990 |
| Helen Wills Moody | 8 | 1927–1938 |
| Steffi Graf | 7 | 1988–1996 |
| Serena Williams | 7 | 2002–2016 |
| Blanche Bingley Hillyard | 6 | 1886–1900 |
| Billie Jean King | 6 | 1966–1975 |
| Dorothea Lambert Chambers | 7 | 1903–1914 |
| Player | Speed | |
| Taylor Fritz | 238 km/h (148 mph) | |
| Andy Roddick | 229 km/h (142 mph) | |
| Milos Raonic | 225 km/h | |
| Sam Groth | 228 km/h |
Youngest Champions
Men's Singles:
Women's Singles:
Oldest Champions
Men: Ken Rosewall reached the Wimbledon final at 39 (1974) but did not win. Federer won his last title at 35 in 2012.
Women: Navratilova won her 9th Wimbledon title at 33 years old in 1990 — the oldest women's Wimbledon champion in the Open Era.
Most Consecutive Matches Won at Wimbledon
Prize Money History
Memorable Finals
1980 — Borg vs. McEnroe: Borg won 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7, 8–6. The fourth-set tiebreak, won by McEnroe 18–16, is considered one of the greatest single sets in tennis history.
2001 — Federer beats Sampras: Roger Federer, 19 years old, defeated Pete Sampras in the fourth round — widely seen as the moment the torch was passed between generations.
2008 — Nadal vs. Federer: Nadal won 6–4, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 in fading light. Widely considered the greatest tennis match ever played.
2019 — Djokovic vs. Federer: Djokovic held off Federer over nearly five hours in the longest Wimbledon final.
The All England Club
Wimbledon is played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which has hosted The Championships since 1877. Centre Court holds 14,979 spectators. The famous grass is a specially selected perennial ryegrass cut to 8mm.
The queue for tickets — a British institution — sees fans camping for days to obtain ground passes. The traditions of strawberries and cream, white clothing requirements, and the royal box add to Wimbledon's unique character among sporting events.