Friday 26 June 2015 14:55, UK
Some true greats have graced the courts at the All England Club. Indeed, Wimbledon fans are looking forward once again to watching the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal battling it out for the famous title.
But it’s been 13 years since someone other than the ‘Big Four’ lifted the trophy on Centre Court – Lleyton Hewitt the last man to hold that honour.
Over the years, many greats of the game have tried and failed at Wimbledon. It's been an unlucky venue for some, and a source of real frustration for others – while career Grand Slam hopes have come crashing down in south-west London.
So ignore the Federers, the Borgs and the Sampras’s. Spare a thought for these guys who never quite managed a Wimbledon title…
Tim Henman
Henman doesn't have the same Grand Slam credentials as some others on this list, but the Brit always produced the goods at Wimbledon in front of the adoring home crowd. The pressure was huge, he carried the hopes of a nation in every match and his serve and volleying style proved ideal for grass. Henman made four Wimbledon semi-finals (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002), losing twice to Pete Sampras and once to Lleyton Hewitt, but it was his 2001 defeat to Goran Ivanisevic that broke Henman's and British hearts. Two-sets-to-one up, and having won the third set 6-0, the rain came pouring down and the game had to be completed over three days. Ivanisevic regained his composure and recovered to win, ending Henman's chances once again.
Ivan Lendl
Eight Grand Slam titles. 270 weeks at number one. The main man of the late 1980's in men's tennis. Seven Wimbledon semi-finals and two finals. Yet Lendl never lifted the trophy on Centre Court. The man from the Czech Republic might be the greatest player never to have won the Wimbledon title. Indeed he was unlucky to come up against the likes of Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Stefan Edberg during his era. Lendl lost to Becker in the 1986 final in straight sets and the year after, the world No 1 lost to Pat Cash, again in straight sets. He did coach Andy Murray to the title in 2013, but the absence of a Wimbledon title on his CV must hurt.
Andy Roddick
Many players must rue the dominance of Roger Federer, but none more so than Roddick. The American’s rocket serve and powerful forehand made him a dangerous opponent on grass and with a US Open title under his belt in 2003, Roddick looked set to lay claim to Federer’s title defence in 2004. But after reaching the final, Roddick lost in four sets and was swept away in straight sets in the 2005 final as well. Rafael Nadal’s emergence pushed Roddick down the pecking order, but he made yet another final in 2009, after beating Andy Murray in the semis. The result was a marathon five setter against Federer, lasting four hours and 17 minutes, but Roddick still couldn't find a winning formula, losing the final set 16-14.
Pat Rafter
The Australian was a popular figure at the All England Club, no doubt helped by his highly entertaining serve and volley style. Rafter won two US Open titles, but he seemed destined to fall short at Wimbledon, especially after losing a sensational semi-final against Andre Agassi in 1999. He went one better in 2000, only for Pete Sampras to beat him in four sets in the final. But 2001 will be the year that really frustrates Rafter. He beat Agassi again in the semi-finals to face wildcard Goran Ivanisevic in the showpiece event. But Goran shocked the tennis world, winning a five set classic, sealing the title with a 9-7 set in the fifth. And Rafter never came close again.
Jim Courier
The American spent much of his career in the shadow of compatriot Pete Sampras and it was his rival that denied him the Wimbledon title too. Courier made the final in 1993, but lost in four sets to Sampras. That final was his best performance by far at the All England club. Indeed Courier’s next best result was a quarter-final appearance in 1991. A disappointing record considering Courier was a four-time Grand Slam winner, having previously won two Australian Open and two French Open titles.
Ilie Nastase
Despite winning 58 ATP titles, Nastase often struggled on the grass. Still, the Romanian was a two-time Grand Slam Champion, winning both the US and French Open titles. Nastase made two Wimbledon finals in his career, losing first in 1972 to Stan Smith in a five-set epic, before Bjorn Borg beat him in 1976. Nastase did win one men's doubles title in 1973 and two mixed doubles titles in 1970 and 1972, but the singles crown always seemed to slip through his grasp.
Mats Wilander
A Wimbledon doubles winner in 1986, Wilander never got his hands on the main prize. His problems were not down to the grass courts either; indeed the Swede won two of his three Australian Open titles when it was played on that surface. Despite being a former world No 1 and a seven-time Grand Slam champion, Wilander could never transfer his form to the All England Club and he never made it past the quarter-finals. Defeats at that stage came in 1987, 1988 and 1989, ensuring the Wimbledon title eluded him, and as a result, Wilander never completed the career Slam.
Michael Chang
The American became the youngest Grand Slam winner when he lifted the French Open title in 1989, aged 17, but that Roland Garros success was certainly the high point of his career. Chang made the final of both the Australian and US Opens, but success at Wimbledon always eluded him. He made the quarter-finals in 1994, but that was as good as it got. Chang only made it past the third round at the All England Club three times in total, despite competing at the Championships 14 times.
Guillermo Vilas
Vilas boasted a 75.3 per cent winning record in Grand Slam matches, and won the three other Majors, including two Australian Open titles. But Wimbledon was never his favourite major, and Vilas only registered a 58 per cent winning record at Wimbledon. He never made it past the quarter-finals at the All England Club, reaching that round on two occasions in 1975 and 1976. Vilas, in fact, lost five first round matches out of his 11 Wimbledon appearances and his failure in England made sure he was another who just missed out on a Career Slam.
Ken Rosewall
A 17-time Grand Slam winner, eight in singles and nine in doubles, the Australian is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to grace the sport. He didn’t compete at Wimbledon between 1957 and 1966 as they only accepted amateur competitors, but Rosewall still made the final on four occasions at the tournament. But no glory came – with Rosewall losing in 1954, 1956, 1970 and 1974. And despite deliberately skipping Roland Garros at the end of his career to give himself a better chance at Wimbledon, that elusive title still never came.
