Tennis legends like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have graced England’s finest courts and these are the players with the most Wimbledon wins.
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Wimbledon has been played since 1877 when the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club first introduced the major tournament.
Djokovic won his fourth straight Wimbledon crown in 2022 after the tournament was postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
His win this year helped him reach 20 Grand Slam titles, pulling him level with Federer and Nadal as the only men to accomplish the feat.
The England-based event is held annually as one of four majors, joining the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open.
It’s the only major tournament that’s held on a grass surface, with the three others played on hard and clay courts.
Traditionally, players must wear all-white at Wimbledon due to the All England Club’s strict dress code.
This is the only major championship that has a dress code for its players.
ONE37pm takes a closer at the men’s and women’s players with the most Wimbledon wins in the tournament’s history.
What is the Open Era in tennis?
The Open Era began in 1968 as part of a rejuvenation of the sport.
Grand Slam tournaments like Wimbledon started allowing professional players to compete with amateurs.
British player William Renshaw was one of many amateurs to win Wimbledon in the early days of the competition.
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In fact, Renshaw won six consecutive titles from 1861 to 1866, a feat that has never been topped at Wimbledon.
The French Open was the first major played after the seismic shift, and each major since has followed suit.
Who has the most men’s Wimbledon titles (Open Era)?
Roger Federer (Switzerland) – 8 titles
Wins: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
Pete Sampras (United States) – 7 titles
Wins: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) – 7 titles
Wins: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Bjorn Borg (Sweden) – 5 titles
Wins: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
John McEnroe (United States) – 3 titles
Wins: 1981, 1983, 1984
Boris Becker (Germany) – 3 titles
Wins: 1985, 1986, 1989
John Newcombe (Great Britain) – 2 titles
Wins: 1970, 1971
Rafael Nadal (Spain) – 2 titles
Wins: 2008. 2010
Jimmy Connors (United States) – 2 titles
Wins: 1974, 1982
Stefan Edberg (Sweden) – 2 titles
Wins: 1988, 1990
Andy Murray (Great Britain) – 2 titles
Wins: 2013, 2016
Rod Laver (Australia) – 2 titles
Wins: 1968, 1969
Men’s tennis has seen a steady generation carry the weight of the sport for almost two decades with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.
Nadal and Federer shared Centre Court on several occasion, including one of the most epic Wimbledon finals of all time in 2008.
The five-set thriller saw rain delays and back-and-forth rallies that eventually resulted in Nadal’s first Wimbledon win.
The victory for Nadal halted Federer’s five-year title run.
Prior to their arrival, American Pete Sampras was the gold standard, especially at Wimbledon.
Sampras won seven titles in eight years.
John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg had one of the fiercest rivalries in tennis for years, and the two combined for eight Wimbledon wins.
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Who has the most men’s Wimbledon titles (All Time)?
Roger Federer (Switzerland) – 8 titles
Wins: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
William Renshaw (Great Britain) – 7 titles
Wins: 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889
Pete Sampras (United States) – 7 titles
Wins: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) – 7 titles
Wins: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Bjorn Borg (Sweden) – 5 titles
Wins: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
Laurence Doherty (Great Britain) – 5 titles
Wins: 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906
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Reginald Doherty (Great Britain) – 4 titles
Wins: 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900
Anthony Wilding (New Zealand) – 4 titles
Wins: 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913
Rod Laver (Australia) – 4 titles
Wins: 1961, 1962, 1968, 1969
Wilfred Baddeley (Great Britain) – 3 titles
Wins: 1891, 1892, 1895
Arthur Gore (Great Britain) – 3 titles
Wins: 1901, 1908, 1909
Bill Tilden (United States) – 3 titles
Wins: 1920, 1921, 1930
Fred Perry (Great Britain) – 3 titles
Wins: 1934, 1935, 1936
John Newcombe (Australia) – 3 titles
1967, 1970, 1971
John McEnroe (United States) – 3 titles
Wins: 1981, 1983, 1984
Although Open Era greats like Djokovic, Federer and Sampras sit atop this list, the previous era had some legendary figures.
William Renshaw holds a record with six straight Wimbledon championships back in the 1880’s.
Renshaw’s feat was matched by Sampras, but unfortunately the American’s run was ended before he could reach seven consecutive titles.
Swedish star Bjorn Borg won five titles in a row and was the gold standard for tennis in his country for many years.
As tennis grew as a sport, more players outside of Great Britain were introduced on the Wimbledon scene, creating more stars.
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Who has the most women’s Wimbledon titles (Open Era)?
Martina Navratilova (United States) – 9 titles
Wins: 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990
Steffi Graf (Germany) – 7 titles
Wins: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
Serena Williams (United States) – 7 titles
Wins: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
Venus Williams (United States) – 5 titles
Wins: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008
Billie Jean King (United States) – 4 titles
Wins: 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975
Chris Evert (United States) – 3 titles
Wins: 1974, 1976, 1981
Evonne Goolagong (Australia) – 2 titles
Wins: 1971, 1980
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) – 2 titles
Wins: 2011, 2014
The Williams sisters have been the gold standard in women’s tennis with their dominance for nearly two decades.
American women have really held their own during the Open Era with Navratilova, King and Evert also winning various titles.
Navratilova won six straight women’s championships at Wimbledon, which has never been topped at the All England Club.
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Who has the most women’s Wimbledon titles (All Time)?
Martina Navratilova (United States) – 9 titles
Wins: 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990
Helen Wills Moody (United States) – 8 titles
Wins: 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1938
Steffi Graf (United States) – 7 titles
Wins: 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
Serena Williams (United States) – 7 titles
Wins: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
Dorothea Lambert Chambers (Great Britain) – 7 titles
Wins: 1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914
Blanche Bingley (Great Britain) – 6 titles
Wins: 1886, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1899, 1900
Suzanne Lenglen (France) – 6 titles
Wins: 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925
Billie Jean King (United States) – 6 titles
Wins: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975
Charlotte Cooper Sterry (Great Britain) – 5 titles
Wins: 1895, 1896, 1898, 1901, 1908
Lottie Dod (Great Britain) – 5 titles
Wins: 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893
Venus Williams (United States) – 5 titles
Wins: 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008
Prior to the Open Era, British greats carried the torch on the women’s side of tennis at Wimbledon.
Dorothea Lambert Chambers and Charlotte Cooper Sterry combined for 12 titles in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s before the American renaissance of the sport took over.
Helen Willis Moody was the favorite American to find repeat success at Wimbledon with eight titles in 12 years.