Classic Wimbledon Finals

WOMEN’S FINAL 1978
Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert
2-6, 6-4, 7-5

Considered by most tennis fans as the greatest women’s rivalry, this final was destined to be a memorable experience.

Navratilova had just dispossessed the Florida base liner as world No. 1 and was determined to establish her superiority with her first Grand Slam title.

The Czech-born player struggled early on, losing the first set, but in the second set she found her serve and volley, and by the end she was dominant, winning 12 of the last 13 points.   Navratilova went on to become Wimbledon’s most successful women’s player, with a total of nine singles titles.

MEN’S FINAL 1980
Bjorn Borg beat John McEnroe
1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16-18), 8-6

This final will always be remembered simply as ‘The Tie Break’.

One of tennis’ most famous rivalries produced one of the most memorable finals in Wimbledon history. It was the right hander versus the leftie, the tenacious versus the ice-cool, and the base liner versus the serve and volleyer.

In the fourth set, McEnroe saved two tournament points to force the set through to the iconic tie break which McEnroe won 18–16. Borg regained his composure to serve his way to his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title.

MEN’S FINAL 1990
Stefan Edberg beat Boris Becker
6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4

Edberg and Becker both emerged from the junior ranks around the same time and instantly forged a fierce rivalry based on respect. Edberg took an initial lead claiming a two set advantage but the power of Becker halted the run and turned the match on its head.

At 2 sets a piece the match seemed to have turned in the favour of Becker and after Edberg missed his opportunity to break in the first set, Becker soon broke to take a 3-1 lead. The match still had one twist left, with Edberg seemingly defeated; he broke back and took it to 4-4. With the wind in his sails he broke Becker for a second time, clinching the match on his own service.

MEN’S FINAL 1992
Andre Agassi beat Goran Ivanisevic
6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4

This captivating final saw Ivanisevic’s big serve go up against the big hitting baseliner, Agassi.

Agassi had earlier vowed that the All England Club was not the place for him, with its unique English traditions.  Thankfully for tennis fans worldwide, the Las Vegas showman realised the error of his ways, recognising that the lawns were indeed the most hallowed place in the game.

Agassi defied tennis fans to prove that Wimbledon could be won from the baseline and in the process signalling a change in tennis for future generations.

WOMEN’S FINAL 2005
Venus Williams beat Lindsay Davenport
4-6, 7-6, 9-7 

Venus Williams was currently going through her worst run of form as she entered The Championships, Wimbledon, but everyone knows the Williams sisters are made of tough stuff.

The match was not only the longest Wimbledon women’s final (2 hours 45 minutes), but the first time in 70 years a woman
won by battling back from match point down.

The victory ended a four year drought for Venus as she claimed her fourth Wimbledon title.

MEN’S FINAL 2008
Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer
6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7

The longest Wimbledon men’s singles final last year could quite possibly be the greatest final ever in the sport. Roger Federer went in to the final looking to become only the second man to win six consecutive finals. Rafael Nadal was looking to win his first-ever Wimbledon final, but neither of these heavyweight players could have expected to be a part of such a dramatic occasion.

Nadal could have been expected to crumble in the final set after he missed two Championship points in the fourth set, but he managed to regain his composure and claim victory in near darkness.

The victory also meant that Nadal was the first man since Bjorn Borg to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back.