Wimbledon 2025 JUN 30 – JUL 13 A quintessentially British tradition, the Wimbledon Championships are the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament – synonymous with pristine lawn courts, royal patronage, dazzling white attire and, of course, beloved strawberries and cream Carlos Alcaraz Defending champion arrives at Wimbledon as favourite for title. Extended winning streak to 18 matches – longest of his career – with title at Queen’s Club Alcaraz: Grass court record 29 Wins (32 matches) 04 Titles (Queen’s 2, Wimbledon 2) 77-24 Sets won / lost Spaniard has higher win ratio on grass (90.6%) than clay courts (84.4%) UNDER THE SURFACE Transition from clay to grass courts is notoriously difficult for players due to contrast in movement, bounce and overall gameplay. Alcaraz can emulate compatriot Rafael Nadal with titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Queen’s Club in same year Queen’s Club-Wimbledon double: John McEnroe USA 1981 1984 Jimmy Connors USA 1982 Boris Becker GER 1985 Pete Sampras USA 1995 1999 Lleyton Hewitt AUS 2002 Rafael Nadal ESP 2008 Andy Murray GBR 2013 2016 Carlos Alcaraz ESP 2023 Roland Garros-Wimbledon double: Rod Laver AUS 1969 Bjorn Borg SWE 1978 1979 1980 Rafael Nadal ESP 2008 2010 Roger Federer SUI 2009 Novak Djokovic SRB 2021 Carlos Alcaraz ESP 2024 21st Century Renovation Centre Court: Completion of retractable roof in 2009 allows play to continue in case of rain GROUND LAYOUT No. 1 Court: Capacity: 12,000. Retractable roof installed 2019 Wimbledon Museum Centre Court 15,000 No.2 Court 4,000 Indoor tennis complex cut into side of hill Millennium Building Competitors’ facilities “The Hill” Practice courts Aorangi Plaza entrance 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 GRASS COURT MASTERS GRASS COURT MASTERS Novak Djokovic’s (right) quest to surpass Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record – for men or women – continues, with last major title at U.S. Open in 2023. While Roger Federer’s superb legacy at Wimbledon is yet to be eclipsed Wins at Wimbledon (Open Era, men): Roger Federer SUI Matches W / L: 105 / 14 Novak Djokovic SRB 97 / 12 Jimmy Connors USA 84 / 18 Boris Becker GER 71 / 12 Pete Sampras USA 63 / 7 QUEENS OF CENTRE COURT: Sisters Venus and Serena Williams dominate early 2000s – winning 12 titles between them and playing each other in four finals Wins at Wimbledon (Open Era, women): Martina Navratilova USA Matches W / L: 120 / 14 Serena Williams USA 98 / 14 Chris Evert USA 96 / 15 Venus Williams USA 90 / 18 Steffi Graf GER 74 / 7 Serena Williams Holds record for longest span between first and last titles at Wimbledon – 14 years Venus Rosewater Dish First presented to champion of challenge round in 1886 Timeline of a British Institution 1868: All England Croquet Club is founded 1877 Inaugural championships at Worlpe Road attract field of 22 men. Spencer Gore (GBR, right) is first winner 1884: Ladies’ singles and men’s doubles introduced. Maud Watson (GBR) is first female champion 1900s May Sutton (USA, 1905) and Norman Brookes (AUS, 1907) are first foreign winners 1922 Defending Ladies’ champion Suzanne Lenglen (FRA, right) and Gerald Patterson (AUS) claim first titles on new Centre Court at Church Road grounds 1924-29: France’s “Four Musketeers” – René Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon – dominate court 1934-36 Fred Perry (GBR, left) wins three consecutive singles titles 1937: First television coverage by BBC 1940: Centre Court is bombed during World War II – damage not repaired until 1947 1950s: Teenager Maureen Connolly (USA) wins three successive trophies. Althea Gibson (USA) becomes first black champion 1968: Open Era begins as professional players return. Rod Laver (AUS) and Billie Jean King take titles 1975 Arthur Ashe (USA, right) becomes first black player to win men’s singles 1976-80 Heartthrob Bjorn Borg wins five consecutive titles. Virginia Wade (GBR) triumphs in 1977, Queen’s Silver Jubilee year 1980s Fan favourites John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova are centre stage 1990s Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf (left) dominate proceedings 2003: Roger Federer wins first of eight trophies 2008: Rafael Nadal (ESP) beats Federer in arguably greatest Wimbledon final 2009: Retractable roof used for first time 2012 Centre Court hosts Olympic Games, with Andy Murray (GBR) and Serena Williams winning singles gold medals 2013 Crowd erupts as Murray (left) becomes first British Wimbledon men’s champion for 77 years 2019: Novak Djokovic beats Federer in longest Wimbledon final – 4 hours, 57 minutes 2022: Championships mark centenary of Centre Court, with play on Middle Sunday for first time Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy First presented in 1887 Roll call of champions MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS (OPEN ERA) 1978, 79, 82-87, 90 Martina Navratilova USA 9 1988, 89, 91-93, 95, 96 Steffi Graf GER 7 2002, 03, 09, 10, 12, 15, 16 Serena Williams USA 7 2000, 01, 05, 07, 08 Venus Williams USA 5 1968, 72, 73, 75 Billie Jean King USA 4 1974, 76, 81 Chris Evert USA 3 8 Roger Federer SUI 2003-07, 09, 12, 17 7 Novak Djokovic SRB 2011, 14, 15, 2018-22* 7 Pete Sampras USA 1993-95, 1997-2000 5 Bjorn Borg SWE 1976-80 3 John McEnroe USA 1981, 83, 84 3 Boris Becker GER 1985, 86, 89 Roger Federer *2020 tournament cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic Sources: Wimbledon, ATP, WTA Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS