The Oldest Player To Win Wimbledon

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The iconic Grand Slam - The Wimbledon Championships in England has been known to make the careers of many tennis players over the years. It is considered one of the toughest to win due to it being played on grass and the conditions and crowd atmosphere often favoring one player over another.

Add age to that and it becomes a huge test of mental and physical fitness as well as the threat of competition from youngsters for older players.

So winning becomes the hardest, which is why very few actually are able to achieve the feat.

So the query often asked about the Wimbledon Championships every year is – ‘Who is the oldest man to win Wimbledon?’

The oldest man to win Wimbledon is none other than the legendary Roger Federer across eras.

Roger Federer has left behind a timeless legacy at the tournament, clinching the men’s singles title a record 8 times. While his first title win came at the age of 21 back in 2003, his final and 8th title win came in the year 2017.

Just a few weeks becoming the oldest player to win the French Open, Novak Djokovic is within touching distance of achieving the same feat at Wimbledon by breaking Roger Federer’s record.

Back in June this year, Djokovic eclipsed another member of the Big Three in Rafael Nadal as he was 36 years and 20 days when he lifted the Roland Garros trophy while his Spanish rival was 36 years and two days when he won the title in 2022.

Victory would also see him become the oldest Wimbledon winner, but where does he feature in the top 10 as things stand?

1. Roger Federer – 35 years, 10 months and 26 days

When Roger Federer won his first Wimbledon title in five years, he moved past Ashe and into top spot as he was three years older than the American.

Federer’s eighth Wimbledon crown came on the back of a 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 win over Marin Cilic in the final and it was also his 20th and final Grand Slam title.

2. Novak Djokovic – 35 years, one month and five days

Novak Djokovic had won Wimbledon last year at the age of 35 no doubt. However, Djokovic was 35 years and 49 days old when he did so, beating Nick Kyrgios in the final.

On the other hand, Roger Federer was 35 years 326 days old when he beat Marin Cilic back in 2017.

3. Arthur Ashe – 31 years, 11 months and 13 days

Arthur Ashe made all sorts of history on July 5, 1975 as he became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title and also became the oldest man to do so.

The American defeated defending champion Connors 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 to break Laver’s record.

4. Rod Laver – 30 years, 10 months and 14 days

Australian Rod Laver became the first 30-year-old to win the title at SW19 in the Open Era when he defeated Newcombe 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 in the 1969 Wimbledon final. Although to be fair, the Open Era was still in its infancy as it started in 1968.

5. Jimmy Connors – 29 years, nine months and 19 days

American Jimmy Conners was only seven days older than Ivanisevic when he won the 1982 Wimbledon final, beating great rival John McEnroe 3–6, 6–3, 6–7 (2–7), 7–6 (7–5), 6–4.

Few Unkown Facts In Tennis

1. Oldest ever male singles champion - Arthur Gore, 41

Gore was 41 when he won in 1909. He was also runner-up in 1912 when he was 44.

2. The oldest woman in singles 2023 - Venus Williams, 43

Williams has won the title five times and is one of the greatest ever in the women’s game.

3. Oldest ever female champion - Charlotte Cooper Sterry, 37

Charlotte Cooper Sterry won in 1908 at the age of 37, which is still a record to this day - although Serena Williams was 34 when she won her final title in 2016.

Martina Navratilova was 37 when she lost the final in 1994 but was still playing ten years later when she won her first-round match of the 2004 tournament. She also holds the record for the oldest doubles winner, having won the mixed tournament in 2003 aged 46.

4. Youngest man in singles 2023 - Arthur Fils, 19

There is a new generation of men’s players looking to win in SW19 with Holger Rune and Carlos Alcaraz both 20 and Jannik Sinner not far behind at 21.

But slightly younger still is 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils.

5. Youngest ever male champion - Boris Becker, 17

Boris Becker was only 17 years old when he won the 1985 title. He won two further times and was a popular figure but has not stayed on the straight and narrow in recent years.

6. Youngest ever female champion - Martina Hingis, 16

Martina Hingis was a child sensation, winning the 1994 girls’ title aged just 13. The Swiss went on to win the women’s doubles championship in 1995 and then the singles in 1997 - aged 16.

A year later, Serena Williams was 16 when she won the 1998 mixed doubles tournament.