Ten Best Wimbledon Moments Of Last Decade
Wimbledon
March 13, 2020
Wimbledon 2020 is just around the corner, the first of the new decade.
So we thought we’d whet your appetite by picking our top ten most memorable Wimbledon moments of the last decade.
You will have your own favourites. It’s all so subjective and not easy to put one magical scene ahead of any other.
After all, Wimbledon always creates so many unforgettable highlights every single year.
But here is our top ten in reverse order. They are all pretty special, we hope you will agree.
10. 2010: John Isner v Nicolas Mahut: The Historic Marathon.
Look, it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and it can never happen again at Wimbledon. For a match that lasted more than eleven hours and spanned three days, the lengthy rallies were few and far between.
But it was intriguing and surreal. The dramatic tension reached extraordinary levels. Isner won the final set 70-68. They built a statue to commemorate the contest. It undoubtedly deserves its place in the top ten.
9. 2013: Novak Djokovic Beats Juan Martin Del Potro In Genuine Epic.
Regarded at the time as one of the greatest matches Centre Court had ever seen, this was also the longest semi-final back then, at four hours and forty-four minutes.
This particular Wimbledon marathon was full of delicious subtlety and breathtaking quality. The looping, booming power of Del Potro almost got the better of Djokovic. In the end, Novak’s deft precision edged a classic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
8. 2016: Andy Murray Wins His Second Wimbledon.
Andy had already made every British tennis fan’s dream come true three years earlier. It was too much to expect lightning to strike twice. Wasn’t it?
Murray’s 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Milos Raonic had the country in raptures once more. And this time Andy could really savour every moment of what he had achieved.
7. 2016: Serena Williams Beats Angelique Kerber.
Serena landing her last Wimbledon title to date was very special. Her 7-5, 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber was also highly entertaining. The first set in particular was electric.
And this became a historic afternoon because the victory drew Serena level with the great Steffi Graf on 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
6. 2012: Roger Federer Beats Andy Murray.
No one in tennis is loved more than Roger Federer. Not even Andy Murray! And yet the Brit fans thought their man was on the road to glory when he took the first set.
Back came the imperious Federer to win the final 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 and leave Murray in tears. There was barely a dry eye on Centre Court, whoever you were backing.
5. 2013: Sabine Lisicki beats Serena Williams.
Few gave the plucky German a chance in their fourth-round clash on Centre Court. Except for the underdog herself, of course.
She promised aggression and didn’t disappoint. Serena fought fire with fire. But in a contest full of massive hits and raw courage, Lisicki won the match 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 – and in doing so captured Wimbledon hearts. Her self-belief was shocking and inspirational in equal measure.
4. 2018: Rafael Nadal Beats Juan Martin Del Potro.
Simona Halep called it the best match she had ever seen. The giant South American certainly brought out the very best in Rafa during this superb Wimbledon quarter-final.
Nadal’s warrior-like qualities were in full, frightening flow as he fought back magnificently to win 7-5, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The crowd gasped. So did Halep! Some would say the semi-final against Djokovic was even better. But we wanted to include a brilliant Nadal victory in our top ten.
3. 2019: Coco Gauff’s Incredible Comeback.
Coco Gauff was a set and 2-5 down against Polona Hercog. She saved two match points. She was only fifteen.
Her parents sat in the Centre Court players’ box and willed their child to find a foothold. So did millions around the world, glued to their TV.
She did. And then some. Centre Court suddenly became a place of scarcely believable sporting drama. The final score? 3-6, 7-6, 7-5. Coco was the new sporting superstar of Wimbledon and the world.
2. 2019: Novak Djokovic Beats Roger Federer In Thrilling Final.
Five incredible sets, the last one the best of all. Federer fans understandably upset, yet who can say Novak didn’t deserve the ultimate tennis prize once more?
Roger’s consolation was that he knew he had played a wonderful part in one of the greatest matches of all time. Federer, starting to push forty, with match points to take an unlikely title that would have defied time itself.
Novak with the psychological edge, scrambling back from the dead to triumph with heroic poise and nerve.
The score in full? Djokovic won 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3). Just sensational.
1. 2013: Andy Murray Wins His First Wimbledon.
We know there have been greater matches – many remembered here as part of our top ten. But there has never been more expectation, more pressure, more joy on Centre Court.
Of all the amazing moments in an action-packed and truly glorious decade, this was the one. A British man winning Wimbledon? Come on. Tim Henman had come close. But that kind of thing just didn’t happen. Not for 77 years, anyway.
Murray changed all that. Novak Djokovic, drained by his sizzling semi-final against Juan Martin Del Potro, had no answer.
Even so, the final game was excruciating for its tension before that explosion of happiness. Andy Murray, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. Wimbledon champion.
So that’s our top ten for the decade. And we can’t wait for Wimbledon 2020, the first of the new decade.
So many more fantastic moments await us. We will see you there!