Most successful singles players at the All England Open

All-time Most Titles (Amateur Era)

Men's Singles - Rudy Hartono (8 titles)

Rudy Hartono won eight consecutive titles at the All England Open

Rudy Hartono attained demigod status at the All England Open Championships during his prime, having won eight consecutive titles in England from 1968 to 1974. It only took another one-of-a-generation shuttler – countryman Swie King Liem to break the monopoly in the men’s singles event.

It was during the same time that the legendary player claimed the Asian Games gold medal in Bangkok, in 1970. It is a pity that he only got to win an Olympic medal as a part of a demonstration sport during the 1972 Munich Games, with Badminton inducted as one of the major disciplines only in 1992 – 20 years later.

The triumph at the 1980 World Championships in Jakarta was the last feather Rudy added to his cap, before bidding adieu to the game a few years later. His tryst with the sport continued even after retirement, having served as an official for various organisations like the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) and Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Women's Singles - Judy Devlin (10 titles)

Judy Devlin has won the most titles by any singles player at the All England Championships (Image: BWF)

The only non-Asian on our list, the American enjoyed a glamorous career from mid 1950s to mid 1960s, having registered a total of 86 national and international titles. Judy Devlin took baby steps into the world of badminton under the supervision of her father at a very young age, while she burst into the international scene with the U.S Open Badminton Championships, back in 1954.

It was in the same year that she claimed her first title in the United Kingdom across the Atlantic and started a never-seen dominance at the All England Championships. She went on to claim the ultimate prize for nine times following her first triumph – 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, and 1967. Judy was literally invincible during the phase.

Following which, the USA-based player was more into doubles than singles, with the 1973 English National Championships being her last major win at international level. Post-1960, after her marriage with Dick Hashman, the legendary player settled in England and later became a British citizen.