Top five youngest players to defend Wimbledon title ft. Carlos Alcaraz, Bjorn Borg and more

Carlos Alcaraz became the third-youngest player to defend Wimbledon title.

Carlos Alcaraz became only the ninth men’s singles player to successfully defend the Wimbledon title after beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to lift the Wimbledon 2024 title. Alcaraz, who won his first-ever Wimbledon title in 2023, beat the Serbian in just two hours and 30 minutes and in straight sets to claim his second Wimbledon and fourth overall Grand Slam.

He joined the likes of tennis greats Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic among others to successfully retain the men’s singles title. Only nine men in history have managed to successfully hold on to the title. Apart from the aforementioned four, the others are — John Newcombe, John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras.

In a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final, Alcaraz once again came up triumphs against Djokovic, beating the seven-time Wimbledon Champion 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) to write his name into history. Apart from being part of the revered nine, the Spaniard is also the third youngest-ever to retain the men’s singles title at the All England Tennis Club.

On this record-breaking day, let’s have a look at the top five youngest players to defend the Wimbledon title.

Youngest players to defend Wimbledon men’s singles title

5. Roger Federer

Roger Federer, the Swiss Legend won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 defeating Mark Philippoussis in straight sets, thereby embarking an incredible love story with the Championship. This was the 21-year-old’s first major Grand Slam win, and hence many refer to this victory as the beginning of a new era in tennis.

The subsequent year, he staged an incredible comeback from a set down and beat Andy Roddick in the final to defend his Wimbledon title. His streak of five consecutive Wimbledon wins was eventually broken in 2008 by the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal. Federer went on to become the most successful men’s Wimbledon champion, winning the championship eight times. He is closely followed by Sampras and Djokovic, who have each won seven titles.

4. Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam champion won his first Wimbledon title in 1993 after defeating Jim Courier in the final. The former American tennis star won six more grass court Grand Slams between 1994 and 2000.

In the 1994 Wimbledon final, the 22-year-old, showcased his dominant serve and all-court prowess, defeating Goran Ivanišević in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 to defend his Wimbledon title. The former American World Number #1 was undeniably the best tennis player in the world from 1990 until 1999.

Also Read: Men’s singles players to win Channel Slam in Open Era ft. Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic & more

3. Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, the young Spanish sensation, won the 2023 Wimbledon final in a thrilling five-setter match against the seasoned champion Djokovic. It was a battle that kept everyone on the edge of their seats with Alcaraz showcasing incredible skill and tenacity, to ultimately triumph over Djokovic with a scoreline of 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.

Hoping to repeat his 2023 heroics, a year later he crushed the Serb in straight sets to join the legends of the game by defeating 24-time Grand Slam winner. This victory made him the third-youngest player to successfully defend a Wimbledon title. The Spaniard also became the youngest (21y 70d) to win both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same calendar year.

2. Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg, the Swedish Legend won the 1976 Wimbledon Championship, defeating Romania’s Ilie Nastase in straight sets, when he was just 20 years old becoming the youngest men’s champion of the 20th century. However, that record didn’t last long as nine years later, Boris Becker won the tournament at the age of just 17.

Next year, Borg stunned America’s Jimmy Connors to win his second consecutive title at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. His incredible streak of five consecutive Wimbledon titles from 1976 to 1980 was finally broken in 1981 by John McEnroe in the final.

Also Read: List of Players who have won their first four Grand Slam finals

1. Boris Becker

Boris Becker was just 17 years old when he won the 1985 Wimbledon Championship, becoming the youngest ever winner of the gentlemen’s singles title. He defeated Kevin Curren from the United States to win the final in four sets.

“What I remember most from winning Wimbledon at 17 was that people suddenly looked at me differently – they thought I was from planet Mars. They thought I had done something I wasn’t supposed to do, something that shouldn’t have been possible.

“But I did it. And then I did it at 18, just to make the point”, said the German after winning the Championship again in 1986 to become the youngest ever to defend a Wimbledon title, beating the Swedish tennis icon Stefan Edberg in straight sets.

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