Wimbledon: The greatest players of the prestigious tournament

The championship at Wimbledon is considered as the Mecca of tennis. Many players acknowledge it as the most prestigious Slam.

Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam and is the only one that is played on grass, which is the traditional surface of lawn tennis.

The traditional white outfits, the decorum maintained and the touch of royalty makes it unique, whilst prize money is also on par with the other Grand Slams.

Of course, the players too have a part in making the Wimbledon a truly remarkable tournament.

Let us look at some of the greatest Wimbledon players of all time -

Pete Sampras

Why - Pete Sampras won seven singles Wimbledon titles between 1993 and 2000. He was the first male player to do so. His record for the most Wimbledon titles was valid until recently when Federer won his eighth title in 2017. Sampras never lost a Wimbledon final that he played in and that really puts him in the 'Wimbledon's Greatest' league

Some people called Sampras a boring player and he was not a crowd favorite like Andre Agassi. He did not even like grass courts initially, but with his stoic determination, passion and hard work, he proved that he was the king of Wimbledon.

He had a great all-round game and was the master of the serve and volley. His serve was powerful and difficult to read and it earned him his nickname 'Pistol Pete'.

Sampras was one of the few players whose second serve was almost as lethal as the first serve. The American also played at a time when there were many tennis legends in action like Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, Agassi, and Jim Courier. His longevity and winning ways in this competitive time proves that he was a distinguished player.

Bjorn Borg

Why - Bjorn Borg is no doubt considered as one of the greatest players of tennis. He won five consecutive Wimbledon titles (1976-1980), defeating worthy opponents such as Ilie Năstase, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe.

He has some records in Wimbledon that stand valid even today. For example, his amazing match winning percentage of 92.7% and a 41 consecutive match winning streak achieved from 1976-81 is still to be conquered.

Bjorg's cool-headed manner of play gave him the moniker of 'Ice Man'. Although, this disguised his passion and determination.

The Swede's dominance on the grass courts is attributed to his accurate baseline forehand, his staying power, and a double-handed backhand shot that he is credited for introducing to the tennis world.

He shocked the tennis world by announcing his retirement at the age of 26 and although he tried to make a comeback, it ultimately proved to be successful.

Roger Federer

Why - Any amount of admiration and eulogy falls short of paying tribute to Roger Federer's game. He has won a record 8 Wimbledon titles over a period from 2003-2017, beating worthy opponents like Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. This proves his resilience, determination and staying power.

Federer has a whip-like forehand and a commendable serve in addition to an exquisite backhand as well. This kind of game is suited to the grass courts of Wimbledon.

Federer has reached the finals in 7 consecutive Wimbledon finals from 2003–09 and he is the only player to achieve this record in the Open Era.

Federer was written off in 2012-13 because of his injuries and the decline of his dominance on the court. But he reinvented his game by bringing changes to his playing style, coaching, and racquets and ultimately reached the pinnacle of the sport again.

At 36, an age where most sportspersons are past their prime or retired, Federer seems fresh and ready to play more and win more.

Steffi Graf

Why - Steffi Graf or Fräulein Forehand; as she was known due to her powerful forehand drive, dominated the tennis world from 1987 to 1996. Her favorite surface was grass and she ensured that she gained mastery over it.

Graf won one of her Wimbledon titles by defeating her opponent Natalia Zvereva with a scoreline of 6-0, 6-0 in 32 minutes, and this remains the only Grand Slam double-bagel win in the Open Era till now.

Overall, she won the Wimbledon singles title 7 times and the doubles title once. Graf has won 22 Grand Slam titles and broke the dominance of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the way to achieve her zenith.

Graf was a graceful and stylish player with an aggressive all-round style and is credited for developing the style of play that has come to dominate today's women's game.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams won her first Wimbledon defeating her elder sister Venus Williams and went on to win a total seven singles titles, six doubles titles (all of them with her sister) and one mixed doubles title. She is one of the greatest tennis players of all times and has been playing for over 22 years now and is still a force to reckon with.

Wiliams has 23 Grand Slam titles, the most major titles by any currently playing male or female tennis professional. She also holds an all-time record for the most women's singles matches won at Grand Slams with 335 matches. The American also has the most Grand Slam titles - (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined) at 39 among the active players.

She has taken the women's game to a new level with her aggressive and powerful playing style and continues to remain an inspiration to many.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova has a plethora of jaw-dropping records to her name. Here are some of them -

Most number of combined singles, doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam wins - 59
Only player to be ranked number 1 in both singles and doubles for more than 200 weeks
Most singles titles in the Open Era - 167
Most doubles titles in the Open Era - 177

Billie Jean King said that Navratilova is “the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived”.

Looking at her records, there is not much to argue with that statement. Navratilova had an attacking game and she brought in a new wave of tennis in the women's game with her spin serve, new training techniques and lightning speed on the court.

In Wimbledon, she has won 9 singles, 7 doubles and 4 mixed doubles titles which again goes on to prove her complete mastery of tennis.

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