25 YEARS OF WIMBLEDON
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, Unibet is looking back at the last quarter of a century at the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament: Wimbledon
The first ever Wimbledon, back in 1877, saw just 22 men compete over five days in front of a few hundred spectators. Fast forward to the modern era and it’s a different spectacle. This year’s event will feature no fewer than 660 scheduled matches across 14 days, with more than half a million tennis fans expected to attend.
The Championship boasts an illustrious 135-year history but, thanks to a veritable feast of talent, the past 25 years have arguably been the biggest and best - and we’ve been offering exciting betting opportunities every step of the way.
Join us as we chronicle the Championships’ growth and some mind-boggling stats since our own launch in 1997.
ICONIC MOMENTS FROM THE LAST 25 YEARS
2000: SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR SAMPRAS
Pistol Pete dominated the courts at SW19 between 1993 and 2000. The American won 53 of 54 matches in that time resulting in a three-peat between and ’93 and ’95 and four consecutive titles between ’97 and ’00 - thus equaling the then-record of seven Men’s singles titles.
2001: PATIENCE PAYS FOR IVANISEVIC
Goran Ivanisevic must have thought the Wimbledon title was just beyond him after losing three finals during the 1990s. The 1994 world number two was edged out by both Sampras and Andre Agassi in that time but returned to stun the south London crowds in 2001. Arriving at the Championships ranked a lowly 125 in the world he saw off the likes of Andy Roddick, Tim Henman and Pat Rafter en route to a maiden Slam title.
2008: RAFA'S REDEMPTION
While Rafa Nadal has long been the king of Roland Garros he found the grass courts a tougher nut to crack, losing to Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 finals. However, the Pearl of Manacor arrived at the 2008 Championships in red-hot form, having thwarted the Swiss master in the French Open final during a 23-match winning streak. Form won out on this occasion with the Spaniard claiming his first Wimbledon crown after a grueling, rain-soaked final against old foe Federer.
2013: BRITAIN'S WAIT IS OVER
Britain’s wait for a men’s singles champion was so long that only octogenarians will have remembered Fred Perry’s last success in 1936. Step forward Andy Murray to finally end 77 years of hurt. Murray had lost out to Federer in 2012 but returned with a maiden Slam (the 2012 US Open) and an Olympic Gold Medal to his name. With renewed confidence the Scot put Djokovic to the sword in front of 15,000 elated fans.
2017: FEDERER ACHIEVES GR-EIGH-NESS
Swiss ace Federer looked a dead cert to claim the outright title of most men’s singles titles after equaling the record with his 7th win in 2012 at the age of 30. However, his confidence may have waned after four barren years in SW19. Those fears were swatted aside though as he dispatched Marin Cilic in just one hour 41 minutes to surpass Pete Sampras and William Renshaw and claim an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon crown.
2019: AN EPIC FINALE
Wimbledon finals, as Federer showed against Cilic, can be quick affairs; in fact the quickest final lasted just 36 minutes! Every now and then though the fans get more bang for their buck and never more so than in 2019. Old foes Federer and Djokovic faced off for the third time in the fixture and despite facing two Championship points the Serb fought back to win a modern classic in four hours and 57 minutes.
2000: SEVENTH HEAVEN FOR SAMPRAS
Pistol Pete dominated the courts at SW19 between 1993 and 2000. The American won 53 of 54 matches in that time resulting in a three-peat between and ’93 and ’95 and four consecutive titles between ’97 and ’00 and thus equalling the then-record of seven Men’s singles titles.
2001: PATIENCE PAYS FOR IVANISEVIC
Goran Ivanisevic must have thought the Wimbledon Title was just beyond him after losing three finals during the 1990s. The 1994 world number 2 was edged out by both Sampras and Andre Agassi in that time but returned to stun the south London crowds in 2001. Arriving at the Championships ranked a lowly 125 in the world he saw off the likes of Andy Roddick, Tim Henman and Pat Rafter en route to a maiden Slam title.
2008: RAFA'S REDEMPTION
While Rafa Nadal has long been the king of Roland Garros he found the grass courts a tougher nut to crack, losing to Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 finals. However, the Pearl of Manacor arrived at the 2008 Championships in red-hot form, having thwarted the Swiss master in the French Open final during a 23-match winning streak. Form won out on this occasion with the Spaniard claiming his first Wimbledon crown after a grueling, rain-soaked final against old foe Federer.
2013: BRITAIN'S WAIT IS OVER
Britain’s wait for a men’s singles champion was so long that only octogenarians will have remembered Fred Perry’s last success in 1936. Step forward Andy Murray to finally end 77 years of hurt. Murray had lost out to Federer in 2012 but returned with a maiden Slam (the 2012 US Open) and an Olympic Gold Medal to his name. With renewed confidence the Scot put Djokovic to the sword in front of 15,000 elated fans.
2017: FEDERER ACHIEVES GR8NESS
Swiss master Federer looked a dead cert to claim the outright title of most men’s singles titles after equaling the record with his 7th win in 2012 at the age of 30. However, his confidence may have waned after four barren years in SW19. Those fears were swatted aside though as he dispatched Marin Cilic in just one hour 41 minutes to surpass Pete Sampras and William Renshaw and claim an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon crown.
2019: AN EPIC FINALE
Wimbledon finals, as Federer showed against Cilic, can be quick affairs; in fact the quickest final lasted just 36 minutes! Every now and then though the fans get more bang for their buck and never more so than in 2019. Old foes Federer and Djokovic faced off for the third time in the fixture and despite facing two Championship points the Serb fought back to win a modern classic in four hours and 57 minutes.
DID YOU KNOW
Around 53,000 tennis balls are used every year during Wimbledon
The longest match in history was Isner (USA) vs Mahut (FR) in 2010.
It lasted 11h05, 980 points were played in total and 123 balls were used.
Isner was the winner, the scores being 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.
DID YOU KNOW
The current "almost entirely in white" rule was established in 1995 - before that, the rule for the players was set as "predominately in white".
PETE SAMPRAS (USA)
Age: 50, retired
Finals: 7 (1993-1995, 1997-2000)
Wins: 7 (1993–1995, 1997–2000)
Most consecutive titles: 4 (1997-2000)
Years between first and last win: 7
Win percentage: 94.12%
Quickest final: 1h34
Suffering rival: Goran Ivanisevic lost two finals against Sampras.
Smashing stat: The only male player to win three or more consecutive Wimbledon titles twice in the Open Era
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 40, Still active
Finals: 12
Wins: 8 (2003 – 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
Most consecutive titles: 5
Years between first and last win: 14
Win percentage: 88.24%
Quickest final: One hour 41 mins
Suffering rival: Andy Roddick – lost two Wimbledon finals to RF
Smashing stat: Federer has won more Wimbledon men's singles titles than anyone in history (8)
ANDY MURRAY (GBR)
Age: 35, Still active
Finals: 3
Wins: 2 (2013, 2016)
Most consecutive titles: 0
Years between first and last win: 4
Win percentage: 84.29%
Quickest final: 2h48m (2016)
Suffering rival: Richard Gasquet lost both matches at Wimbledon to Murray, including blowing a two-set lead in 2008
Smashing stat: Murray has never lost a first round at Wimbledon
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 35, Still active
Finals: 7
Wins: 6 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Most consecutive titles: 3
Years between first and last win: 10
Win percentage: 88.76%
Quickest final: 2h50m
Suffering rival: Roger Federer has lost three finals against Novak (2014, 2015, 2019)
Smashing stat: Once won a game in just 46 seconds
VENUS WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 41, Still active
Finals: 9
Wins: 5 (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Most consecutive titles: 2 (2000, 2001 – 2007, 2008)
Years between first and last win: 8
Win percentage: 83%
Quickest final: 1h30m (2007)
Suffering rival: Defeated Lindsay Davenport in two finals (2000, 2005)
Smashing stat: From 2000 to 2009 Venus Williams reached the final seven times
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 40, Still active
Finals: 11
Wins: 7 (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)
Most consecutive titles: 2 (2002-03, 2009-10 and 2015-16)
Years between first and last win: 14
Win percentage: 88%
Quickest final: 1h06m (2010)
Suffering rival: Serena defeated her sister Venus three times in a Wimbledon final (2002, 2003, 2009)
Smashing stat: 16 of the last 21 finals have featured at least one Williams sister
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 36, Still active
Finals: 5
Wins: 2 (2008, 2010)
Most consecutive titles: 0
Years between first and last win: 3
Win percentage: 81.54%
Quickest final: 2h11m (2010)
Suffering rival: Berdych lost both meetings with Nadal at Wimbledon, one in a final.
Smashing stat: The final of 2008 against Federer is widely considered the best tennis match in history
PETE SAMPRAS (USA)
Age: 50, retired
Finals: 7 (1993-1995, 1997-2000)
Wins: 7 (1993–1995, 1997–2000)
Most consecutive titles: 4 (1997-2000)
Years between first and last win: 7
Win percentage: 94.12%
Quickest final: 1h34
Suffering rival: Goran Ivanisevic lost two finals against Sampras.
Smashing stat: the only male player to win three or more consecutive Wimbledon titles twice in the Open Era
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 40, Still active
Finals: 12
Wins: 8 (2003 – 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017)
Most consecutive titles: 5
Years between first and last win: 14
Win percentage: 88.24%
Quickest final: One hour 41 mins
Suffering rival: Andy Roddick – lost two Wimbledon finals to RF
Smashing stat: Federer has won more Wimbledon men's singles titles than anyone in history (8)
ANDY MURRAY (GBR)
Age: 35, Still active
Finals: 3
Wins: 2 (2013, 2016)
Most consecutive titles: 0
Years between first and last win: 4
Win percentage: 84.29%
Quickest final: 2h48m (2016)
Suffering rival: Richard Gasquet lost both matches at Wimbledon to Murray, including blowing a two-set lead in 2008
Smashing stat: Murray has never lost a first round at Wimbledon
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 35, Still active
Finals: 7
Wins: 6 (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Most consecutive titles: 3
Years between first and last win: 10
Win percentage: 88.76%
Quickest final: 2h50m
Suffering rival: Roger Federer has lost three finals against Novak (2014, 2015, 2019)
Smashing stat: Once won a game in 46 seconds
VENUS WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 41, Still active
Finals: 9
Wins: 5 (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Most consecutive titles: 2 (2000-01 and 2007-08)
Years between first and last win: 8
Win percentage: 83%
Quickest final: 1h30m (2007)
Suffering rival: Defeated Lindsay Davenport in final twice (2000, 2005)
Smashing stat: From 2000 to 2009 Venus Williams reached the final seven times
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 40, Still active
Finals: 11
Wins: 7 (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)
Most consecutive titles: 2 (2002-03, 2009-10 and 2015-16)
Years between first and last win: 14
Win percentage: 88%
Quickest final: 1h06m (2010)
Suffering rival: Serena defeated her sister Venus three times in a Wimbledon final (2002, 2003, 2009)
Smashing stat: 16 of the last 21 finals have featured at least one Williams sister
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 36, Still active
Finals: 5
Wins: 2 (2008, 2010)
Most consecutive titles: 0
Years between first and last win: 3
Win percentage: 81.54%
Quickest final: 2h11m (2010)
Suffering rival: Tomas Berdych lost both meetings with Nadal at Wimbledon, one in a final.
Smashing stat: The final of 2008 against Federer is widely considered the best tennis match in history
The last 25 years has given us moments of pure genius with some of best of all-time gracing the grass. Will any of these Wimbledon legends add to their legacy at this year's tournament or will new their be new names on the SW19 winner's list?
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