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Wimbledon 2023 is almost upon us as the top players in men’s and women’s professional tennis prepare to descend on London. The Grand Slam in Britain’s capital city draws a crowd with many famous faces watching from a comfortable viewpoint in the stands.
The thousands in attendance join millions of avid tennis lovers and casual sports fans worldwide. They all share a goal: to see the best crowned Wimbledon tennis champion. But which name will set tongues wagging this year, and who do you expect to finish on the top step? Making Wimbledon predictions is easy, but making winning picks takes a little more effort on your part.
This article aims to inspire readers ahead of Wimbledon’s return by taking you on a trip down memory lane. Keep reading as we look back at five memorable Wimbledon men’s finals that have helped shape the sport and raised its profile. How many of these mammoth tussles do you remember? Perhaps you were courtside for one of these classics.
Djokovic v Federer – 2019
We’ll start with one of our favorite Wimbledon finals, when Novak Djokovic played Roger Federer in a thriller. You’ll see from this article that the rivals have met in some big games in London, but with Federer now happily retired, it’s a thing of the past.
In the 2019 Wimbledon final, Djok beat Fed-Ex to become champion, but the Swiss star pushed his opponent hard during a five-set thriller. The final scores read 7-6, 1-6, 7-6. 4-6, 13-12. Interestingly, that Wimbledon final was the last until 2021 due to Covid, when Novak defended.
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Murray v Raonic – 2016
Andy Murray is a British tennis icon, and the Scotsman made his army of fans proud by winning the Grand Slam. Few Brits have won Wimbledon, and none in the fashion of Murray, who captured the crowd’s love in a passionate decider on Centre Court.
Murray beat Raonic in style, winning 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. It was not an easy match, and in true Murray fashion, fans had to endure a few nail-biting moments. But the pride of Scottish sport battled through to secure his place in British tennis history.
Djokovic v Federer – 2014
The great rivals also met in the 2014 final, another action-packed affair. Djokovic ended on top, as he often does in London, but the game swung back and forth, and supporters watched on in amazement. It was an example of professional tennis at its best and a timely reminder of why this tournament is famous worldwide.
Djok and Fed were well-matched in their prime, but Novak was improving and needed raw grit and determination to pull through. The scoreboard at the end of the five sets read 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4. It was an early sign that Djokovic had the skills to win major titles and the character to prevail when things got rough.
Federer v Roddick – 2009
Roger Federer’s Wimbledon legacy is about more than near-misses and losing to Djokovic. The Swiss sportsman enjoyed his fair share of success in London, and 2009 sticks in our mind. It was a cracking game as he ground down Andy Roddick again over five sets. Roger liked to do things the hard way, but he’s a fighter.
It’s incredible to remember Federer beat Roddick to become Wimbledon champion a decade before running Djokovic close on the same platform. He is a consistent athlete who lived the lifestyle required to extend his career. Roger will be remembered as such, going down in the history books as an all-time great of professional tennis.
Roger grafted to a win over his American opponent, the scoreboard confirmed at 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14.
Ivanisevic v Rafter – 2001
We finish with the oldest final on our list as we go back over two decades to remember Gordan Ivanisevic’s stunning Wimbledon win over Pat Rafter. He needed five sets to win the title, and the Croatian lasted the test, winning 3-2.
The match was a perfect contest, swinging back and forth, and both players took their opportunities. They entered the decider on two sets each before Ivanisevic snatched the trophy dramatically. The final was delayed until Monday after the semi-final took three days to complete.