Australian winners at Wimbledon

Now, on Centre Court

• Welcome to Wimbledon, 1951
• The Finals: Men's Doubles, 1951
• All-Australian: Roy Emerson vs Fred Stolle, 1965
• The Goolagong Story, 1971
• Pat Rafter: Wimbledon Final, 2001
• Lleyton Hewitt: Wimbledon winner, 2002
• Ash Barty: Wimbledon winner, 2021

Welcome to Wimbledon, 1951 

The wonderful world of Wimbledon 

The air of carnival and pageantry surrounding the Wimbledon Championship is almost as iconic as the matches themselves, boasting a 148-year history of extravagance, elegance and tradition.   

In this clip, we see American tennis champion Budge Patty leading other athletes around the festival exhibit in South Bank; the atmosphere is electric, with people excited to be a part of the spectacle and experience a taste of the upper-crust lifestyle. Meanwhile, men in suits 'prepare its famous courts for their human counterparts'; one can’t help but imagine they must have felt it a privilege, to be responsible for such an integral part of Wimbledon. The clip highlights the first inclusion of a ‘net court judge’, the man seen sitting in line with the net during play. In 2025, Wimbledon ended its 147-year tradition of using line judges, replacing them with electronic line-calling. 

Explore more famous Australian tennis players 

The Finals: Men’s Doubles, 1951 

Two times two equals four 

The 1951 Wimbledon Men's Doubles Final was a classic example of the prestigious and iconic tournament. During a hotly contested five-set battle, Australians Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman displayed the technical precision and gentlemanly competitiveness that define Wimbledon as a sporting event, victoriously claiming the Men's Doubles championship title after a gruelling match. 

This clip, which also features Jaroslav Drobný and Eric Sturgess, shows the doubles format at its best – fast pace, rallies at the net, sharp reflexes, and heaping amounts of athleticism and skill. Played before a packed Centre Court, the atmosphere feels alive with tradition; Wimbledon is the oldest tournament in the world and is widely regarded as the most prestigious. To win at Wimbledon means becoming part of a living archive of history. 

All-Australian: Roy Emerson vs Fred Stolle, 1965 

Goliath versus Goliath 

On a summer’s day in July 1965, Fred Stolle experienced a powerful sense of déjà vu – Roy Emerson defeated him in straight sets to claim the Wimbledon Men’s Singles title, the same thing that had happened the year before, in the 1964 finals! 

With his signature serve-and-volley style of playing, Emerson was an unbeatable powerhouse on the court, becoming the first male tennis player in history to claim 12 singles majors' titles.  

This footage of the final between two giants of Golden Age tennis proves why Australians dominated the sport in the '60s, with the two players moving around the court in a choreographed battle of epic proportions. Beyond its significance to Australian sporting history, this clip offers us a glimpse into the tennis of old, giving off an air of elegance, style and decorum that we still associate with Wimbledon today. 

The Goolagong Story 

The Sunshine Girl 

Evonne Goolagong-Cawley dominated women’s tennis in the 1970s and ’80s and is one of Australia’s most beloved sporting figures. She's also a two-time Wimbledon champion and the subject of a new ABC series, Goolagong, that began filming in Melbourne in 2025.

In the 1971 documentary The Goolagong Story, she speaks about how the media treated her as a showpiece, almost an oddity, always mentioning the fact that she was Aboriginal. But here, at the height of her powers (she would beat Margaret Court in straight sets to take the Wimbledon title), Goolagong feels that her talent has been recognised, and relishes feeling unique among the players.   

Explore more about Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, trailblazer of Australian tennis

Pat Rafter: Wimbledon Final, 2001 

A dignified defeat 

The grassy lawn of Centre Court has long been a stage that Shakespeare would be proud of. It plays host to scenes of glorious triumph as well as bitter defeat in front of thousands of spectators, including a strong Australian contingent of passionate and loyal fans every year. 

This clip of Pat Rafter in the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final from 2001 really highlights the way Australian athletes bring communities and people together, exemplifying the Australian spirit despite Rafter losing to Goran Ivanišević. We see then-Prime Minister John Howard speaking about Rafter’s efforts, and a surprise appearance from Steve Waugh at the end of the clip sets the crowd to cheering loudly for the retired cricketer.  

Lleyton Hewitt: Wimbledon winner, 2002 

A new kind of rock star 

With his iconic 'Come on!' and a masterful display of skill, Lleyton Hewitt has no problem being recognised as a titan of the tennis court, a fact proven by his decisive straight sets win over David Nalbandian at Wimbledon in 2002.  

Winning the first set in a cracking 32 minutes, Hewitt went on to achieve the first Australian Men’s Singles Wimbledon Final win in 15 years, which he reflects on in this clip, saying 'As a kid growing up, as soon as you pick up a tennis racket, you want to be in that situation…'

Although maybe that dream situation doesn’t include a court streaker, who gives the crowd some amusement during play halted by the rain! 

Ash Barty: Wimbledon winner, 2021

Doing it for me, you and everyone 

In 2021, Ash Barty became the first Australian woman to win a Wimbledon Final in over 40 years, and only the second ever First Nations woman to hold the title.  

In a moving tribute to her mentor, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Barty dominated the court in both an outfit inspired by and a determination seemingly inherited from Goolagong. 'Brilliant from Barty' can be heard from the commentator as she ‘dares to dream’ and writes herself into the history books.  

This clip of Barty’s iconic win gives us a glimpse into how much it takes a village when you want to be the best, and when being the best is demanding and intolerant of distractions. Running into the arms of her boyfriend and coach, you can tell that while this was a big moment in tennis and significant in First Nations sporting achievements, it was bigger for Ash and her family. 

Explore more Wimbledon tennis stars

Looking for more? 

• Explore our online collection of Australian tennis greats
• Learn about First Nations Australian sporting triumphs
• Enjoy a highlights package of Australian Rules brilliance in Great AFL moments

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Main image: Wimbledon Semifinals (Serena Williams, USA vs Maria Sharapova, Russia), Pixabay. Credit: davidkenny91.