JULY 3, 1936
THERE are few people around today who will have seen Fred Perry in his pomp, but history tells us what a player he was.
The Stockport-born star won Wimbledon three years in a row from 1934 onwards, and in 1936, he thrashed German Gottfried von Cramm for the loss of only two games in the final.
People were probably a bit blasé about a British male winning Wimbledon back then.
That changed as there was a 77-year wait for the next one.
JULY 28, 1936
FRESH from his third singles title at Wimbledon, Fred Perry was back on Centre Court for the final of the International Lawn Tennis Challenge, or the Davis Cup as we now know it.
As holders, Great Britain automatically qualified for the final, where they faced Australia.
But at 2-2, the match came down to the final singles between Perry and Jack Crawford.
The British star won in straight sets to secure a ninth title for his country.
JULY 6, 1961
THERE was an all-British final at Wimbledon in the ladies’ singles and a fascinating clash of styles between Angela Mortimer and Christine Truman. Mortimer was small and dogged, Truman was tall and rangy, nine years younger and had the crowd on her side.
Leading by a set and 4-3, the match looked hers.
But being partially deaf, Mortimer wasn’t bothered by lack of support and fought back.
Mortimer went on to triumph 7-5 in the decider.
JUNE 12, 1976
SUE BARKER has become the modern-day “Queen of Wimbledon” as the anchor for the BBC’s coverage of tennis’s most-famous event.
But she wouldn’t have that job if not for her exploits across the Channel at the French Open.
Barker was a fine player, better suited to the red clay of Paris than the green grass of Wimbledon.
The 20-year-old from Devon emerged victorious after six gruelling matches and she remains the last Briton to have conquered Roland Garros.
JULY 1, 1977
EVENTS of that day had a very British feel.
It was the 100th anniversary of the Wimbledon Championships, and the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
She marked the occasion by making a rare appearance to watch the ladies’ final.
There before Her Majesty, Virginia Wade produced a moment worthy of royalty as she beat Dutchwoman Betty Stove to lift the ladies’ singles title.
She received the Venus Rosewater dish wearing a famous pink cardigan!
JULY 5, 1987
BY the mid-1980s, British tennis was officially a laughing stock.
We were hosting the sport’s most-famous event, but didn’t bother to hang around much once the party had got under way.
In those circumstances, you must be grateful for anything.
So, it came in the mixed doubles, that late-evening knockabout so beloved of the crowds, as Jeremy Bates and Jo Durie became the first all-British pairing to win since Fred Perry and Dorothy Round Little in 1936.
JUNE 29, 1997
A third- round match at Wimbledon wouldn’t normally feature on such a list but this was something special.
After a wretched first week of weather, the schedule was miles behind, so play was held on Middle Sunday for only the second time.
Ordinary tennis fans who never dreamt of getting a ticket, found themselves on Centre Court.
Tim Henman beat Dutchman Paul Haarhuis 14-12 in a fifth-set thriller.
AUGUST 5, 2012
FOUR weeks after having his Wimbledon dreams shattered by Roger Federer, Andy Murray lined up against the same opponent on the same court in the Olympic final.
But fresh from Super Saturday in the Olympic Stadium amid a general mood of patriotic fervour that had swept the country, Murray produced an Olympian deed of his own.
The Scot lost just seven games as he swept Federer aside in a sensational display to claim the gold medal.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
AFTER four failures in Grand Slam finals, Andy Murray was wondering if he was meant to win one of tennis’s biggest titles.
But he kept coming back for more and lined up in the US Open final against Novak Djokovic.
Murray was close to glory, but it went to a fifth set.
It was now or never for the Scot. He took a bathroom break to try to compose himself then powered through the decider to win.
Britain’s wait for a Grand Slam Champion was over.
JULY 7, 2013
IT was a hot afternoon, and for the second year running, Andy Murray was in the Wimbledon final.
This time, with a Grand Slam and an Olympic gold under his belt, confidence was much higher.
Again, Novak Djokovic was on the other side of the net. After almost three hours of imperious tennis, Murray was serving for the match.
When Djokovic netted a backhand on the fourth match point, there was an eruption of joy.
The man from Dunblane was Wimbledon Champion.
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