The best Wimbledon finals of all time

Wimbledon 2025 odds are live at Ladbrokes, but before a new champion is crowned on the grass courts of SW19, we’re taking a look back at some of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever played on Centre Court.

Our full Wimbledon preview and betting guide has been released, with all the tips needed to get ahead of the market. Carlos Alcaraz is the favourite to win the Men's Singles, while Aryna Sabalenka leads the way in betting for the Ladies' Singles.

Nadal bt Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7

Still widely regarded as the best tennis match of all time and the defining match of the Federer-Nadal rivalry. It was the third year in a row these two met in the final at Wimbledon, with Federer having won both previously and been reigning champion since 2003.

Rafa jumped out to a two-set lead and had two missed championship points in the third. Federer roared back, winning the next two sets on a tiebreak. With two rain breaks, in the days before Centre Court's retractable roof, the final set was played in near darkness, with Nadal eventually winning 9-7 to secure his first Wimbledon title after a marathon 4 hours and 48 minutes.

Murray bt Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4

After the tears of losing the 2012 final to Federer, Andy Murray made history in 2013 by becoming the first British player to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. It was a landmark day for British tennis.

Murray won in straight sets, but every point felt like a new mountain to climb. Having won Olympic gold on Centre Court not long after his 2012 final defeat, it felt like his time had finally come and the Scot carried the hopes of a nation on his shoulders and delivered.

Williams bt Davenport 4-6, 7-6, 9-7

Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport went toe to toe in a brutal Centre Court battle that has stood the test of time. Davenport served for the title in the second set, but Venus broke to love and levelled the all-American affair in a tense tiebreak.

Williams stared down match point in the final set and saved it with a backhand winner, before going on to win it 9-7 in the longest women's final at Wimbledon and one of the best finals of all time.

Alcaraz bt Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

A true modern classic and a clash between generations, with the 20-year-old Alcaraz going up against the 36-year-old Djokovic. Novak was gunning for his fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown and Carlos aiming for his first.

The young Spaniard was a deer in headlights to begin, losing the first set 6-1, before storming in front by winning the second set tie-break and the third set 6-1. Djokovic was the crowd villain after taking an extensive toilet break and winning the fourth, but Carlitos would not be denied as he announced the dawn of a new era.

Ivanisevic bt Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

Arguably the finest underdog story in Wimbledon's long history, the Croatian with a powerful serve had previously lost three Wimbledon finals in the 1990s but Ivanisevic had dropped to world number 125 and needed a wildcard to play in 2001.

A back and forth match that is remembered for its unique atmosphere and remarkable ending, Goran twice double-faulted on championship point and dropped to his knees to pray. At the fourth time of asking he finally converted to spark some of the most emotional scenes seen on Centre Court.

Serena Williams bt Venus Williams 7-6, 6-3

This one makes the list more for its symbolic nature than the match itself, as it represented a changing of the guard in women's tennis. Venus had won the past two Wimbledon's, but Serena stormed through the tournament without dropping a set in 2002.

The younger Williams' maiden Wimbledon championship was part of her 'Serena Slam' where she won all four majors consecutively, beginning at Roland Garros in 2002. She would go on to win at SW19 on seven occasions, as part of her remarkable haul of 23 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic bt Federer 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12

The longest Wimbledon final of all time at 4 hours and 57 minutes, overtaking Nadal-Federer in 2008, saw these two titans roll back the years in a thrilling match which was the first to be decided by a final set tie-break.

Federer failed to convert two championship points, and indeed this proved to be his last major final. Djokovic displayed his clinical, ruthlessly efficient nature to win his 5th Wimbledon crown despite being outplayed for large parts of the match. The ending was one for the ages, with Djokovic emerging victorious in a 13-12 fifth set.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.