Marta Kostyuk has moved into the first Grand Slam quarter-final of her career and has spoken about how Grand Slam draws can be very different, drawing comparisons to Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez’s respective runs to the US Open final in 2021.

The Ukrainian beat Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva, 6-2 6-1, to achieve her best ever result at the Australian Open or any senior major tournament.

It was the first time that Kostyuk has won a match in straight sets at the tournament this year, having saved a match point against Elise Mertens in the second round.

And the 21-year-old claimed that she deserved the easier match, “The first three matches that I had were extremely difficult. Today, for example, I had it much easier. I was, like: ‘Oh, okay, well deserved, you know’.

“Then we see. I don’t know. I have three more to go. We will see. Maybe I will sit here in one week and be like, Oh, you know, it was not that bad. It was actually easy. We will see.”

Kostyuk then went onto talk about how different Grand Slam draws can be, suggesting that Raducanu had an easier draw to the 2021 US Open final than Fernandez, “It’s every day and every slam and every tournament is so unique and so different. Everything is different. Someone can have a very easy draw, and someone can have extremely difficult.”

The 2017 Australian Open junior champion continued, “I have an easiest example of when Leylah and Emma were playing the final, what draw Leylah had and what draw Emma had. Emma, no offence, but Leylah was really fighting for her life every single match.

“I think there are players who really win this Grand Slam and they’re like: ‘Wow, I don’t think I will ever recover from this physically and emotionally’. There are players who are, like: ‘Oh, it was fine, I might do it again’. I think it’s so unique. I wish I experienced this to give you a proper answer, but I’m working for it. We will see.”

We are taking her HOMEEE??? pic.twitter.com/L6P52UFpAm

— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) September 12, 2021

Kostyuk will now move onto the first Grand Slam quarter-final of her career, where she will play current US Open champion Coco Gauff on Tuesday.

Inside the baseline…

Marta Kostyuk showcased her potential from such a young age, so it is good to see her starting to fulfill some of that at this year’s Australian Open. In terms of her suggesting that Emma Raducanu had an easy draw to the US Open title compared to Leylah Fernandez, you do have to take into account that the Brit also had to play qualifying. It is undeniable that Fernandez had to beat more seeded players, but you can only beat those in front of you.

READ NEXT: How to watch the Australian Open

Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez’s 2021 US Open draw

With Kostyuk making comparisons to the Raducanu and Fernandez’s draws to the US Open final, we have decided to list them for you:

Emma Raducanu

Qualifying Round One – Beat Bibiane Schoofs, 6-1 6-2

Qualifying Round Two – Beat Mariam Bolkvadze, 6-3 7-5

Qualifying Round Three – Beat Mayar Sherif (4th Qualifying seed), 6-1 6-4

First Round – Beat Stefanie Voegele (LL), 6-2 6-3

Second Round – Beat Zhang Shuai, 6-2 6-4

Third Round – Beat Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-0 6-1

Fourth Round – Beat Shelby Rogers, 6-2 6-1

Quarter-final – Beat Belinda Bencic (11), 6-3 6-4

Semi-final – Beat Maria Sakkari (17), 6-1 6-4

Final – Beat Leylah Fernandez, 6-4 6-3

Leylah Fernandez 

First Round – Beat Ana Konjuh, 7-6(3) 6-2

Second Round – Beat Kaia Kanepi, 7-5 7-5

Third Round – Beat Naomi Osaka (3), 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4

Fourth Round – Beat Angelique Kerber (16), 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2

Quarter-final – Beat Elina Svitolina (5), 6-3 3-6 7-6(5)

Semi-final – Beat Aryna Sabalenka (2), 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4

Final – Beaten by Emma Raducanu (Q), 4-6 3-6

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Novak Djokovic has revealed why he copied Ben Shelton’s phone celebration at the US Open, labelling the young American’s behaviour as ‘unsportsmanlike’.

Djokovic played Shelton in the semi-final in New York, beating the then 20-year-old in straight sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

After the match Djokovic used Shelton’s ‘putting the phone down celebration’, that he had been using throughout the tournament, resulting in a seemingly frosty handshake.

However, at the time Djokovic insisted there was nothing to it, smiling when he told press, “I just love Ben’s celebration. I thought it was very original, and I copied him. I stole his celebration.”

Shelton responded to the celebration by suggesting that he was flattered, “I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want.

“You know, as a kid growing up, I always learned that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so that’s all I have to say about that.”

However, when recently asked by L’Equipe about the celebration, it appears that there was more to it from Djokovic’s side, “This is my reaction to a provocation that came from the other side, it was a reaction against him. He did not behave properly, with respect, on court, and before the match.”

The Serb continued, “I’m never going to make fun of someone if they don’t do something first. Every time I lose I always give my opponent a hug, I congratulate him, I respect him and his team. If anyone one places himself in the ‘unsportsmanlike zone’, I react.”

us when they call about our car’s extended warranty.
pic.twitter.com/M39UlKWfxu

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Both players are currently at the Australian Open, and would play each other if they reached the fourth round of the tournament.

Djokovic is currently embroiled in a battle on Rod Laver Arena with 18-year-old qualifier Dino Prizmic, with Shelton set to play Roberto Bautista Agut tomorrow.

Inside the baseline…

It was quite clear that there was a bit of needle in the match between Novak Djokovic and Ben Shelton at the US Open, with that celebration optimising it. However, it is kind of surprising that the topic has come back to light four months after the situation occurred. Lots of eyes will be on the Australian Open fourth round match, if both Djokovic and Shelton were to make it happen this year.

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The first women’s Grand Slam tournament was held at Wimbledon back in 1884, and since then there have been a further 455. But, which country has won the most?

Join us, at Tennishead, as we talk you through the top five countries with the most women’s Grand Slam singles titles:

5. France (17)

Sitting in fifth in this list are France, who have won a total of 17 major titles between seven women. However, many of these Grand Slam victories were in the Amateur Era (1884-1968).

The first 25 editions of Roland Garros were won exclusively by French women, but it was not classed as a major tournament until 1925 due to the fact that it was only open to French club members and citizens.

Suzanne Lenglen, who had already won five Wimbledon Championships at this point, won the first Grand Slam edition of Roland Garros and went onto retain the following year.

The eight-time major winner has since been honoured at the Paris major, with Court Suzanne Lenglen (the second biggest stadium at Roland Garros) named in her honour.

Suzanne Lenglen, a 6x #Wimbledon champion, was nicknamed "The Goddess.” She had a certain flair, & attacked the net & played w/aggression.

Suzanne was also an early advocate for fair pay.

The #RolandGarros women’s singles trophy is named for her.

Today is her birthday. pic.twitter.com/sF1JQk7Oib

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) May 24, 2023

French Grand Slam champions have been few and far between in recent times, with Amelie Mauresmo (2), Mary Pierce (2) and most recently Marion Bartoli (1) the only French women to win majors in the Open Era.

4. Germany (30)

Germany have four women winning their 30 majors, but Steffi Graf (22) is the standout with an impressive 73% of her nation’s total.

Graf dominated women’s tennis between 1987 and 1999, winning four Australian Open titles, six Roland Garros crowns, seven Wimbledon Championships and five US Open’s.

The former No.1 was so dominant that she managed to achieve the Calendar Grand Slam (where you win all four majors in a year) in 1988.

Not only did Graf win all four majors in 1988, she also won an Olympic Gold medal in Seoul, becoming the first and only player in history to achieve the Golden Calendar Slam.

Angelique Kerber has carried the torch for German women’s tennis in more recent times, winning three major titles, and only has Roland Garros missing from her trophy cabinet.

The other two German women to win major titles are Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling (3) and Cilly Aussem (2).

3. Great Britain (52)

Like France, a lot of Great Britain’s success in majors came in the Amateur Era with the Wimbledon Championships primarily, if not entirely, consisting of British players.

As a consequence, Wimbledon was won exclusively by home players from 1884-1904, with American May Sutton Bundy breaking the streak.

The most successful British player in history, in terms of major titles, was Dorothea Lambert Chambers (7), who had all of her Grand Slam wins at Wimbledon.

British Grand Slam champions have been a lot more sparse since, with only six titles spread across four players coming in the Open Era.

Most recently was Emma Raducanu, who ended a 44-year draught for British women’s tennis with a shock victory at the 2021 US Open.

The then 18-year-old became the first qualifier in history to win a major title, winning ten consecutive matches without dropping a set.

Other British Open Era major winners alongside Raducanu are Virginia Wade (3), Ann Haydon Jones (3) and Sue Barker (1).

2. Australia (65)

Australia are second in the all-time list for most women’s Grand Slam titles, with 18 players winning a total of 65 major titles.

Despite the Australian Open having a large quantity of home winners in the Amateur Era, the share of Australia’s Grand Slam titles is fairly evenly split between the Amateur and Open Era’s.

The woman who has lifted the most Grand Slam titles for Australia is Margaret Court (24), and she has the most amount of major singles titles in history alongside Novak Djokovic.

Court won 11 Australian Open’s, five Roland Garros titles, three Wimbledon Championships and five US Open crowns, and is one of only three women to achieve the Calendar Slam.

The Open Era has seen five other Australian major winners, with Evonne Goolagong Cawley (7), Kerry Melville Reid (1), Chris O’Neil (1), Samantha Stosur(1), and most recently Ash Barty (3) who elected to retire last year at the age of 25.

?? YES YES YES!!! ??

ASH BARTY IS THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION! ?#AusOpen – live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/4MwmEyKS59

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 29, 2022

1. United States of America (204)

The clear leaders in this race are the USA, who have over triple the total of majors as their nearest rival Australia, with a colossal 204 titles between 45 players.

The American women took the dominance of their home major to another level, winning 82 of the first 101 US Open Tennis Championships.

Helen Wills Moody (19) is the most successful woman from the Amateur Era, despite never managing to get her hands on an Australian Open title.

However, the USA have not relied on their Amateur Era success to keep them going and have won a further 88 Grand Slam titles in the Open Era.

This has been helped by the likes of the Williams sisters, Chris Evert (18), Martina Navratilova (18) and Billie Jean King (12).

Serena Williams (23) is the more successful of the Williams sisters, and has won more major singles titles in the Open Era than any other woman.

Her sister Venus Williams (7), who is still competing at 43 years of age, has also done her fair share to support the USA’s dominance.

The USA had gone 13 majors without winning a title until recently, when 19-year-old Coco Gauff won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.

READ MORE: What are the top five countries with the most men’s Grand Slam singles titles?

Top 5 Countries with the most women’s Grand Slam titles in the Open Era

With the divide between the Amateur and Open Era’s evident in this list, we at Tennishead thought that it was important to showcase a list just from the Open Era.

While there are three countries that remain in the top five, there are also two potentially surprising nations that appear in this new list:

1. USA (88 titles from 14 players) – Serena Williams (23), Chris Evert (18), Martina Navratilova (18), etc. 
2. Germany (25 titles from two players) – Steffi Graf (22) and Angelique Kerber (3)
3. Australia (24 titles from six players) – Margaret Court (11), Evonne Goolagong (7), Ash Barty (3), etc.
4. Belgium (11 titles from two players) – Justine Henin (7) and Kim Clijsters (4)
5. Yugoslavia/Serbia (10 titles from three players) – Monica Seles (8), Ana Ivanovic (1) and Mima Jausovec (1)

3 Roland Garros titles
6 US Open titles
7 Australian Open titles
7 Wimbledon titles
23 Grand Slam Singles titles

An incredible 42 years of @SerenaWilliams pic.twitter.com/IGhKahpx0e

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 26, 2023

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Stan Wawrinka has accused the Grand Slams of hoarding money away from tennis and failing to ‘redistribute’ it to the players.

Wawrinka has won three majors in his career with Wimbledon the one missing from his collection.

However, he believes the Grand Slam tournaments are too self-serving and have not increased prize money proportionately with the increase in their revenues.

“They do not redistribute enough to tennis compared to the income they generate,” Wawrinka told L’Equipe. “And they have way too much power, because they make [so much] money.

“[The Slams are] where the history of tennis is written. These are the richest Federations which do not redistribute much.

READ NEXT: Jump the queue (in style) for Wimbledon 2024 tickets

“Even between them, there is no communication. The income from Grand Slams today is very important and the percentage returned to players is ridiculous. It has hardly increased at all.

“Grand Slam tournaments only concern their interest, for their country and their Federation. Today, we are stuck until the day the players say stop.

“The problem with tennis is that there are too many governances, too many different entities which only look out for their own interests. Today, the real problem in tennis is the Grand Slams.”

Stanislas Wawrinka milite pour que les tournois majeurs redistribuent plus d’argent au monde du tennis tout en souhaitant que les joueurs soient plus intégrés dans les processus de décisions. Avant d’en arriver à une situation de blocage > https://t.co/6byTbi18br pic.twitter.com/4ziqrfNDyn

— L’ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) November 21, 2023

What was prize money for Grand Slams in 2023?

The Grand Slam events are the cornerstones of the tennis season and easily the biggest paydays for the players.

At first glance, the prize money pots are certainly eye-catching and clearly none of the players who take part do so for a pittance.

In fact, even a player who made it to the third qualifying round at Wimbledon in the singles this year but failed to get themselves into the main draw walked away with £36,000. An exit in the first round of qualifying was worth £12,750. Meanwhile, even a modest run to round three proper would see a return of £131,000.

However, Wawrinka makes a reasonable point about the revenues. They are certainly going up a lot faster than the prize money is.

For example, between 2019 and 2022, the Championship’s income soared from £292million to £346.6million. That is an increase of nearly 55million. However, the prize pot has only swelled by £6.7million in that time.

It is important to note that we, and indeed Stan Wawrinka, are not conducting a comprehensive review of any finances here. We know nothing of how costs may have increased as well and any other challenges tournaments face.

However, Wawrinka is certainly right when he says Grand Slam income is increasing far faster than prize money payouts are.

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Andy Murray has made history on numerous occasions throughout his illustrious career, but which of his many iconic moments ranks at the top?

Join us, at Tennishead, as we go through our top 10 Andy Murray career moments:

10: First ATP title since hip surgery (2019)

We begin this list with the most recent moment, dating back to 2019 when Murray won his last ATP Tour title.

Injuries have dominated the Brit’s career in recent memory, having undergone two potentially career-ending hip surgeries in 2018 and 2019.

Murray had implied that the 2019 Australian Open could potentially be his final tournament, with there even being a video montage from numerous tennis legends paying tribute to the five-time finalist after his first round exit to Roberto Bautista Agut.

Despite suggestions that his career could be nearing towards the end, Murray underwent successful hip resurfacing surgery and returned to the ATP Tour at Queen’s in doubles action alongside Feliciano Lopez.

The pair actually went onto win the tournament, but Murray did not return to singles action until the Cincinnati Masters where he lost his opening match to Richard Gasquet in straight sets.

Andy Murray's dream comeback from potentially career-ending hip surgery ended with a fairytale triumph with playing partner Feliciano Lopez in the doubles at Queen's.

Lopez also won the singles title earlier in the day.

In full: https://t.co/3wLAb7hZ7P#bbctennis #murray pic.twitter.com/AQn2KioL4r

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 23, 2019

He then went onto win a handful of singles matches before arriving at the European Open in Antwerp, which is an ATP 250 event.

Murray used his protected ranking to gain entry into the draw, and made a winning start against Belgian wildcard Kimmer Coppejans.

The then 32-year-old continued winning in Belgium, beating eighth seed Pablo Cuevas, qualifier Marius Copil and Frechman Ugo Humbert to reach his first ATP final since winning the 2017 Dubai Tennis Championships pre-surgery.

Murray faced fellow three-time Grand Slam champion and fourth seed Stan Wawrinka in the final, and it was the Swiss that claimed the opening set, 6-3.

However, Murray fought back in characteristic fashion to beat Wawrinka, 3-6 6-4 6-4, to win the 46th ATP Tour title of his career.

And it came as no surprise when Murray was subsequently awarded ATP Comeback Player of the year for 2019.

Murray has not won a main ATP Tour title since this moment, but he has manage to reach the final of tournaments in Sydney, Stuttgart and Doha.

9: Winning first ATP title to become British No.1 (2006)

We now go from Murray’s most recent ATP title to his first, that dates all the way back to 2006 when he was only 18-years-old.

Murray had turned professional the year prior, and showed signs of his potential with a debut run to the third round at Wimbledon.

Where it all began… #OnThisDay in 2005 @andy_murray announced himself to the world in an epic 5⃣ set battle against @nalbandiandavid at @Wimbledon ? pic.twitter.com/ABcJoK0Uft

— LTA (@the_LTA) June 25, 2020

This potential became more evident in 2006 at the International Series event (now known as ATP 250) in San Jose, when a No.60 ranked Murray picked up his first top 10 win against world No.3 and top seed Andy Roddick to reach his second ATP Tour final, having lost in Bangkok the year before.

In this final, Murray met two-time singles Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt and fought back after losing the first set to win, 2-6 6-1 7-6(3).

1⃣st @atptour title ?#OnThisDay in 2006 unseeded @andy_murray defeated Lleyton Hewitt to win in San Jose pic.twitter.com/vJJ3IxvnHH

— LTA (@the_LTA) February 19, 2021

With his first ATP title, Murray rose up the rankings and later on that month became British No.1 for the first time, ending Tim Henman’s seven-year run by doing so.

8: Winning Paris Masters to become world No.1 (2016)

In 2006, Murray became British No.1 for the first time and ten years later he was crowned the world No.1 after winning the Paris Masters.

This was Murray’s most successful season, claiming a total of nine titles, and he was rewarded for this in the French capital.

Ranked as world No.2 heading into the Masters 1000 event, Murray knew that if Novak Djokovic did not reach the final, he would be crowned world No.1 if he won the title.

Djokovic had won the Paris Masters title three times in a row, but could not make it four after being beaten in the quarter-final by 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.

As a result, Murray only had to win one more match after beating Tomas Berdych to reach the semi-finals.

However, he became world No.1 in quite an anti-climatic way after his semi-final opponent Milos Raonic withdrew before the start of the match, consequently giving Murray a walkover to the final.

Despite this, Murray capped his achievement off in style by beating John Isner, 6-3 6(4)-7 6-4, to win the 14th Masters 1000 title of his career.

7: Beating Novak Djokovic to win ATP Finals and secure status as year-end No.1 (2016)

Murray’s 2016 success did not stop at the Paris Masters, as he had the goal of winning his first ATP Finals title at the O2 in London to secure the status of being the year-end ATP No.1.

It was the ninth time that Murray had qualified as one of the top eight players from the year, and the Brit was part of Group John McEnroe that included Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic.

He went onto win all three of his round-robin matches, losing only one set to Nishikori to reach the semi-finals.

This is where he would play Milos Raonic in a gruelling three hour and 38 minute contest, the longest three set match in the tournament’s history.

Murray managed to beat the Canadian, 5-7 7-6(5) 7-6(9), and saved a match point in the process to reach the final of the year-end for the first time in his career.

In the final, Murray would go head-to-head with the aforementioned Djokovic knowing that he needed to win to secure his status as year-end No.1.

And that is exactly what he did in front of a rawcus home crowd, Murray beat the Serb, 6-3 6-4, to win his 25th consecutive match and fifth title in a row.

#OnThisDay 2016 @andy_murray won the ATP Finals to secure the @ATPWorldTour Year end No.1! #Legend ??

? from @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/w1FBvdFCJ7

— LTA (@the_LTA) November 20, 2018

6: Claiming home Olympic Gold and Silver (2012)

The London 2012 Olympics are a historic event in British history, and Murray played a big part in that by winning two medals.

Murray entered all three events at his second Olympic Games, with mixed doubles making its return after not being held at the Olympics since 1924.

The tennis event was held at the All England Club, which plays host to Wimbledon every year and was the venue where Murray suffered a heartbreaking final defeat to Roger Federer just a month prior.

However, Murray appeared to put that defeat behind him, making a strong start to his singles campaign and dropped only one set en route to the semi-finals where he would play Djokovic.

This meant that Murray had a 75% chance of a medal, and the home favourite guaranteed that he would be receiving at least a silver after beating the second seed, 7-5 7-5.

In the final Murray would play the aforementioned Federer, with the Scot seeking revenge at the biggest sporting event of them all.

And revenge was what he got by beating the top seed in straight sets, 6-2 6-1 6-4, to become the first British tennis medallist at the Olympics since 1920.

In the mixed doubles event, Murray partnered Laura Robson as a wildcard entry and came through three tightly contested matches to reach the final.

The final was also a tight contest, but this time Murray and Robson came out on the wrong side of the result, losing to top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi, 6-2 3-6 8-10.

Despite this defeat, they were still awarded a silver medal and therefore Murray became only the seventh man (now eight) in the Open Era to win two tennis medals at a single Olympic Games.

#OnThisDay in 2012 @andy_murray & @laurarobson5 won @olympics silver for @teamgb

This was Andy's 2⃣nd medal in a matter of hours on a special day at @wimbledon pic.twitter.com/pW8weVAWSF

— LTA (@the_LTA) August 5, 2020

Murray did not find so much success in the men’s doubles event alongside brother Jamie, losing in the first round to the Austrian pairing of Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya.

5: Maiden Grand Slam Triumph in New York (2012)

Using his Olympic triumph to fuel him, Murray arrived at the US Open in confident fashion and was gearing up to win his first major title.

The 2008 finalist came in as the third seed and made a strong start, beating Aleksandr Bogomolov and Ivan Dodig in comfortable fashion.

Murray then beat 30th seed Feliciano Lopez in a tight four set match, before defeating 15th seed Raonic to reach his third quarter-final at the New York major.

In this match Murray would play 12th seed Marin Cilic, and found himself a set and a double break down before fighting back to win in four sets.

He would have expected to meet top seed Federer in this semi-final, but the Swiss was beaten by Tomas Berdych setting up a golden opportunity for both players.

Murray came out on top, beating the Czech, 5-7 6-2 6-1 7-6(7), to reach his second successive Grand Slam final.

Djokovic would be the opponent for Murray in this final, and the Brit actually lead by two-sets-to-love before being pegged back to two sets apiece.

Despite Djokovic having the momentum, Murray managed to turn things back around and triumphed to a, 7-6(10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2, victory lasting four hours and 54 minutes (the joint longest US Open final).

By claiming his maiden Grand Slam title, Murray became the first British man to win a major singles title since Fred Perry in 1936 and the first Scottish-born Grand Slam champion since Harold Mahony in 1896.

4: Second Wimbledon title (2016)

As we head towards the summit of the list, it is a return back to Murray’s incredible 2016 season where he won his second title at SW19.

After reuniting with former No.1 Ivan Lendl, Murray won a record fifth title at Queen’s Club in the lead-up to Wimbledon.

The home favourite was the second seed at The Championships and began his campaign in impressive fashion, winning through all of his first four rounds in straight sets.

This was in complete contrast to his quarter-final contest with 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, coming from two-sets-to-one down to beat the Frenchman, 7-6(10) 6-1 3-6 4-6 6-1.

Murray was the favourite at this stage in the competition, with world No.1 and defending champion Djokovic suffering a shock defeat in the third round to Sam Querrey.

And he managed to cope with that pressure in impressive fashion, beating Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic in straight sets to lift his second Wimbledon title.

2⃣ time #Wimbledon Champion#OnThisDay in 2016 @andy_murray beat Milos Raonic to claim his 2nd @Wimbledon title ? pic.twitter.com/ECbzVJoEJn

— LTA (@the_LTA) July 10, 2021

3: Leading Great Britain to first Davis Cup crown in 79 years

Tennis is often a very individual sport, but Murray’s biggest moment in 2015 came for Great Britain in the Davis Cup.

Great Britain were nine-time Davis Cup champions at the time, but were without a title since 1936 and had only returned to the World Group in 2014 after a five-year hiatus.

Captained by Leon Smith, Great Britain began their campaign against the United States of America and Andy Murray lead his country to a 3-2 victory in his home of Glasgow alongside James Ward, Dominic Inglot and brother Jamie Murray.

Moving onto the quarter-finals, Andy and Jamie Murray, alongside James Ward, combined to beat France 3-1 and move Great Britain onto the semi-finals for the first time since 1981.

Captain Smith brought in Dan Evans for the semi-final against 28-time champions Australia, where Andy Murray went onto win two singles and a doubles rubber with brother Jamie again to send Great Britain into the Davis Cup final.

Their opponents were second-time finalists Belgium, who were lead by top 20 player David Goffin, with Great Britain the away side on the indoor clay of Ghent.

Belgium took the lead after the aforementioned Goffin outlasted Kyle Edmund in a five-set battle, leaving the Brits with it all to do.

However, it was Andy Murray again who provided the goods for his nation, beat Ruben Bemelmans in singles and found success with his brother in doubles once again to leave Great Britain one match away from glory.

And glory was provided on Sunday 29th November 2015, when Murray beat Goffin with a iconic lob to claim Great Britain’s 10th Davis Cup crown.

Murray won all of his rubbers throughout the tournament, and became only the third man to win all eight of his singles rubbers alongside tennis legends John McEnroe and Mats Wilander.

2: Retaining Olympic title (2016)

As you have scrolled through this list, you have probably realised that 2016 and representing Great Britain was when Murray excelled and that was optimised at the Rio Olympics.

Coming in as the defending champion from the London Games, Murray knew that he had the chance to make history on the hard courts of Brazil.

And the second seed managed to put himself in an opportunity to win a medal, after beating Viktor Troicki, Juan Monaco, Fabio Fognini and coming through an extremely tight battle with Steve Johnson to reach the semi-finals.

In this semi-final, Murray beat Kei Nishikori, 6-1 6-4, to put himself in the gold medal match for a second consecutive Olympic Games.

Murray would play 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the final, who had beaten top seed Djokovic in the first round and had also won a singles medal in 2012 (bronze).

It was a classic and very emotional Olympic final, with Murray coming on top against the Argentine, winning 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5.

By doing so, Murray became the first player in history to win two Olympic gold singles medals and is the only player to win a Grand Slam, the ATP Finals, a Masters 1000 title and Olympics gold in the same year.

1: Ending Britain’s 77-year wait at Wimbledon (2013)

It will come as no surprise to many that No.1 in this list is Murray’s maiden Wimbledon title in 2013.

There was a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Murray, with the weight of the nations hopes of a first men’s singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

And these hopes were only heightened when the Scot showed signs of form after winning his third of what is now five titles at Queen’s.

There was also the added element of the 2012 Wimbledon final, where Murray was defeated by Roger Federer, but as we know he went onto get revenge on the same court at the Olympics a month later.

Murray reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set, easing past the likes of Benjamin Becker, Lu Yen-Hsun, Tommy Robredo and 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny.

It was at this quarter-final stage where he faced his first hurdle against former top 10 player Fernando Verdasco, with Murray two-sets-to-love down.

However, the gutsy Brit fought back to beat the Spaniard, 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5, and kept his Wimbledon dream alive.

It was a much more comfortable semi-final contest for Murray, winning in straight sets against 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz to move one match away from the Wimbledon title once again.

But, if Murray was to win the title he would have to do it the hard way against world No.1 and at the time six-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

Djokovic lead the head-to-head 11-7 at this point, but it was Murray who had won their only previous meeting on a grass court.

And the home favourite used that advantage to beat Djokovic in straight sets, but not in straightforward fashion having to come back from breaks down in both the second and third set.

Murray’s fate as Wimbledon champion was confirmed when Djokovic hit a backhand into the net, sending Centre Court into a rapturous applause for first men’s British singles winner in 77 years.

The Brit’s feat has only been highlighted more as time has gone on, with Djokovic being unbeaten on Centre Court until just this year when Carlos Alcaraz beat him in the final.

Honourable Mentions

We have condensed Andy Murray’s career into 10 magical moments, but there are still plenty more to look back on.

So, we have provided three honourable mentions for you:

• Losing five Australian Open finals – four of them to Djokovic
• Reaching the Roland Garros final in 2016 – where Murray suffered another major final defeat to Djokovic
• Telling Fabio Fognini to ‘shut up’ in Shanghai 

'SHUT UP!'

? Andy Murray was not happy with Fabio Fognini in their Shanghai Masters clash…pic.twitter.com/jlubh3XS0X

— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) October 8, 2019

READ NEXT: Andy Murray facing off-season of uncertainty after brutal admission

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Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez lit up the US Open two years ago, and now the Canadian runner-up has reflected on an ‘extremely hard’ couple of years since.

Raducanu shocked the world by becoming the first qualifier to reach a major final, and alongside Fernandez provided the first all-teenage Grand Slam final since Serena Williams-Martina Hingis at the 1999 US Open.

It was the Brit that got the better of the Canadian in that final winning, 6-4 6-3, to complete ten consecutive matches without dropping a set.

With both now in their twenties, it hasn’t been as plain sailing for the pair with both struggling for form and fitness at differing times.

However, Fernandez claimed her third WTA title last week in Hong Kong and after her victory spoke about the experience in New York two years ago, “Well, 2021 was a special tournament for both of us, we both did extraordinary things not many people get to experience.

“I was able to beat a couple of top-10 players, ex-champions. Emma, she came through the qualifying, so we both had to go through some difficulties, and afterwards, I think it was hard on both of us adjusting to the new life.

Raducanu has been on the injury sidelines for the majority of 2023, after undergoing surgeries to both of her wrists and left ankle.

And Fernandez has admitted that she is looking forward to seeing the Brit return, claiming she is ‘great for the sport’, “I know Emma is working hard, I know she is hungry, she has something to prove, so I’m sure she’s going to come back and play some great tennis,”

The No.43 continued, “Hopefully, we do see her because she is great for the sport. She has got something special for the WTA and for women’s tennis. Hopefully, we can both compete at the highest level once again side by side.”

opa. 3/3‍? pic.twitter.com/YbXQS5PZtX

— Emma Raducanu (@EmmaRaducanu) May 15, 2023

Fernandez has also revealed that she has faced her own challenges over the past couple of years, “It is extremely hard. In the past, you think that you are grounded and you are the same person, quote unquote, but the reality is we grow and we mature, and sometimes what happens to us is we don’t want to see the truth.

“I’m very happy and glad that I do have my parents and a good team around me that tell me the truth, even though I don’t like it. They help me stay grounded. Right now, I know what it feels like to, let’s say, not be grounded. I know what it feels like to have my head up in the clouds, to take it easy.

The 21-year-old added, “But I also know what I need to do to get back on track. Now I’ve got a plan, I’m clear minded and know what I need to do. Hopefully, the results keep coming, and hopefully, the good times aren’t done, but I’m just going to enjoy my time right now.”

Fernandez has continued her momentum on from Hong Kong to the WTA 250 event in Nanchang, winning her opening round match in comfortable fashion.

Another one ??

Hong Kong champ @leylahfernandez defeats Guo 6-1, 6-3 in Nanchang to continue her win streak!#JiangxiOpen pic.twitter.com/rNib6sf2Vv

— wta (@WTA) October 17, 2023

It is less clear when Raducanu will return, however she has recently suggested that her aim is the beginning of 2024.

Inside the baseline…

The women’s singles tournament at the 2021 US Open provided us with so many shocks, that we will likely never see again. Due to the unforeseen nature of both of Raducanu’s and Fernandez’s rises to the top of the game, it is of no surprise that they have struggled to recreate that sort of form since. However, both have produced flashes on occasions and have plenty of time to create more stability and consistency in the future.

READ MORE: Emma Raducanu reveals when she ‘will be back’ to WTA tour

Emma Raducanu vs Leylah Fernandez since the 2021 US Open Final

Due to both of their incredible runs to the US Open final two years ago, Raducanu and Fernandez will always have a connection and we at Tennishead wanted to compare their form since the 2021 New York major:

Emma Raducanu

Win-loss record: 24-27 (47%)

Highest Ranking/Current Ranking: No.10/No.280

Best Results: Seoul Semi-final 2022 (WTA 250), Indian Wells Fourth Round 2023 (WTA 1000)

Leylah Fernandez

Win-loss record: 48-34 (59%)

Highest ranking/Current Ranking: No.13/No.43

Best Results: Won Monterrey 2022 (WTA 250), Roland Garros Quarter-final 2022 (Grand Slam), Won Hong Kong (WTA 250)

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Stars such as Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen and American Bill Tilden meant the game’s popularity was growing, and in 1922 Wimbledon was forced to find new premises…

The years immediately after World War I saw a surge in spectator interest in tennis, and the construction of the great stadiums that would host the four Grand Slam tournaments for most of the 20th century. In 1922 Wimbledon moved to new, bigger grounds at Church Road, with a purpose-built 13,500-capacity Centre Court arena – designed by architect Captain Stanley Peach – and another 12 outside courts. The post-war years also saw the opening of the world’s other great tennis stadiums: White City, Sydney (1922), Forest Hills in New York (1923), Roland Garros (1928) and Kooyong in Melbourne (1932). These venues would host the four Grand Slam events for most of the 20th century.

Some 200 spectators had watched the first Wimbledon men’s final in 1877, but by 1913 10,000 people were inside the grounds on the second Friday of the Championships for the Gentlemen’s Challenge Round match when defending champion Anthony Wilding beat Maurice McLaughlin – the “California Comet”–in three straight but closely-contested sets. Improvements in communications along with the arrival of charismatic stars like dashing New Zealander Wilding had created a huge public demand which Wimbledon’s Worple Road ground was simply too small to satisfy. Surrounded on three sides by residential streets and on the fourth by the London and South Western Railway, there was no room for expansion. The onset of World War I in 1914 delayed Wimbledon’s decision, but when peace was restored in 1919, the long-awaited debut of Suzanne Lenglen–France’s famous Divadu Tenis – made a move to new premises more pressing. The arrival a year later of the charismatic American champion Bill Tilden made such a change inevitable.

In May 1914, 15-year-old Lenglen was beaten in the final of the French Championships by her compatriot Mlle Broquedis in a tight three- set match. Incredibly, this was to be the last defeat of her career. For the next 12 years until she turned professional in 1926, the Frenchwoman went undefeated in singles play. She was never beaten in singles at Wimbledon, and between 1919 and 1925, she won a total of 15 Wimbledon titles, including six in singles. She also won 19 French Championships, again including six in singles, and two Olympic gold medals. This extraordinary record places her above all other women in the history of the game.

Born in Paris in 1899, the young Suzanne spent her winters in Nice on the French Riviera, in a family home facing the Nice Lawn Tennis Club. Her father Charles gave Suzanne her first tennis racket when she was 11, a very young age in which to start the game in those days, and she immediately showed great promise. Tennis was an important part of the Riviera’s social season, and from January to April each year a number of tournaments took place in Nice, Cannes, Beaulieu,MentonandMonteCarlo. Inher teenage years she enjoyed great success in these events, first in the handicap draws and later in the open adult events.

During her years as the world’s undisputed No.1, she continued to play the Riviera circuit, and in February 1926 the Carlton Club at Cannes was the scene of a memorable match when Suzanne at last came head-to-head with America’s emerging star Helen Wills. The 20-year old Californian had just won her third consecutive US singles title, and many pundits believed that she would be the player to at last end Suzanne’s 12-year unbeaten run. There was a huge clamour for tickets for the match, and even the erection of a large temporary stand – doubling the usual seating capacity to 3,000 – could not satisfy the demand. Suzanne won the match 6-3 8-6 but the young Wills had done enough to show that she was the rightful heir to the Frenchwoman’s crown. Later that year, Suzanne won the French singles title for a sixth time, but defaulted at Wimbledon due to injury. Earlier in the tournament she had been at the centre of a controversy when the Queen had arrived at Wimbledon expecting to see her play, only for Suzanne to be absent due to a breakdown in communications. Some members of the Centre Court crowd turned against Lenglen, who left Wimbledon under a cloud, never to return. She turned professional a few weeks later and sadly died in Paris in 1938, aged just 39.

Despite her early death, Lenglen had single-handedly elevated lawn tennis from the sports pages to front-page headline news. She swept aside old Victorian values of dress and decorum, playing with a graceful, athletic style in daring outfits that revealed far more female flesh than had ever been seen in public before. She was charismatic, enigmatic, and a fashion icon; the first global superstar in women’s sports.

Located on site since 1977, the Wimbledon museum re-opens in a new location by Gate 4. Previously housed in a corner of Centre Court, the museum had to be moved because of the roof project, which required the integration of new supports to hold up the planned 3,000-tonne retractable roof on the 89-year-old structure.

In men’s tennis, the post-war years saw a fascinating battle for supremacy between Frenchmen Jean Borotra, Rene Lacoste (founder of the Lacoste clothing brand), Henri Cochet and Toto Brugnon – collectively known as The Four Musketeers – along with America’s Big Bill Tilden. Tilden was a larger than life character who many believe to be the greatest player of all time. He won his first Wimbledon singles title in 1920 at the age of 27, and his third and last ten years later at 37, making him Wimbledon’s second-oldest singles champion. Tilden was no stranger to controversy. As a champion in the amateur era he was constantly at odds with officialdom over his off-court earnings from writing and journalism, and in later life he served a term in jail for a sexual offence. Tilden continued to play high-level competitive tennis up to his death in 1953 at the age of 60.

As the 1920s drew to a close, tennis – like other major sports – remained high profile as people sought to shut out thoughts of the world’s growing economic and political uncertainties. The first radio broadcasts from Wimbledon in 1927 created even wider interest in The Championships, and it seemed that whatever problems might beset the outside world, tennis in general and Wimbledon in particular were destined to go from strength to strength.

This feature was orignally published in Tennishead magazine back in 2007 and you can grab your own annual subscription, which includes 4 stunning printed magazine editions and 24 issues of The Bagel newsletter.

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Iga Swiatek has competed in her first match without the world No.1 ranking since April 2022, and the Pole revealed that she is not putting any pressure on herself to achieve a Career Grand Slam.

Swiatek beat Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama, 6-4 7-5, at the WTA 500 event in Tokyo earlier today in an extremely topsy-turvy match that lasted just over two hours.

The 22-year-old is a four-time major winner and was asked by press about ‘when’ she believed she could achieve a Career Grand Slam, when you win at least one Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, which has only been achieved by 10 women in history.

But, Swiatek seemed a bit taken aback by this question and responded while smiling, “Oh my god, when? I don’t think I can answer you specifically. Um, as soon as possible.”

Wimbledon has historically been Swiatek’s weakest major and the WTA No.2 claims she needs ‘a couple of more years’ to adapt her game to the grass.

“Well for sure, I think I need a couple of more years to learn how to play on grass better. So, I’m not rushing it you know,” said Swiatek. “I’m 22, so I still have a lot of time probably, more than like 10 years. So I’m doing my best to win every tournament, every tournament I play at. But yeah, I’m not rushing it because I’ve already won four Slams.”

She added, “What I did since 2020 is crazy, it’s hard for me sometimes to even understand how it happened. Because when I was younger, I didn’t know it was going to be possible for me. So really, I’m taking it easy.”

With the 2023 Grand Slam season over, Swiatek does not need to focus on major tournaments until January next year and will have her full attention on her quarter-final match in the Japanese capital.

This is where Swiatek will play eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova, who she has only lost 10 games in four previous meetings to.

Inside the baseline…

With Swiatek achieving so much already, it is easy to forget that the Pole is still only 22-years-old and she is right to make the Career Slam a more long-term goal. The Australian Open feels more like an inevitability for Swiatek, whereas the main concerns will be around winning Wimbledon. However, she did manage to achieve her best ever performance this year and in due course should be lifting the title at SW19 with her talent.

READ MORE: Tennis on TV next week and how you can watch Beijing, Tokyo and more!

Iga Swiatek at Grand Slams

With Swiatek speaking about the potential of a Calendar Slam, we at Tennishead have looked back at her performances at all four of the major tournaments:

Overall Grand Slam win-loss record: 68-15 (82%)

Australian Open

Win-loss record: 15-5 (75%)

Best result: Semi-final (2022)

Roland Garros

Win-loss record: 28-2 (93%)

Best result: Won (2020, 2022 & 2023)

Wimbledon

Win-loss record: 9-4 (69%)

Best result: Quarter-final (2023)

US Open

Win-loss record: 16-4 (80%)

Best result: Won (2022)

4!!!!!???#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/JiBQy6bUif

— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) June 10, 2023

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Grand Slam tennis titles are the pinnacle of the sport for the ATP tour, dating all the way back to 1877. But, which country has the most champions from the past 166 years?

Join us, at Tennishead, as we talk you through the top five countries with the most men’s Grand Slam tennis singles titles:

5) Sweden (26)

Sweden come up fifth in the all-time list for most men’s Grand Slam singles titles, with 26 titles from a total of five players.

Bjorn Borg has contributed the most to Swedish success, with a total of 11 major titles (42% of Sweden’s total), all coming at either Roland Garros or Wimbledon between 1974 and 1981.

Borg is closely followed by Mats Wilander (7) and Stefan Edberg (6), who actually played each other in the 1985 Australian Open final, with Edberg getting the better of Wilander to win his first major.

Two years later in 1987, Wilander and Edberg completed a clean sweep for Sweden and won all four Grand Slam titles in the same year.

Completing the Swedish Grand Slam roll of honour is Thomas Johansson (1) and Sven Davidson (1).

4) Spain (35)

Up until May 2005, Spain had won only 11 men’s Grand Slam titles. While this is still a very respectable figure, it seems worlds apart from their total of 35 today.

This is largely down to Rafael Nadal, who won his first major title at Roland Garros when he was 19. He has since gone onto take the Grand Slam tennis singles events by storm, completing the career Grand Slam twice, and winning the second highest number of major singles titles by a man ever (22).

His tally of 22 titles also includes a record of 14 Roland Garros crowns, and while he has suggested that 2024 could be his final year, you can never count him out of adding to his total.

The first ever Spanish Grand Slam singles champion was Manuel Santana, who won Roland Garros back in 1961, and went onto win another title in Paris three years later, as well as a single Wimbledon and US Open.

Other major singles winners for Spain include Sergi Bruguera (2), Carlos Moya (1),  Albert Costa (1), Andres Gimeno (1), Manuel Orantes (1) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (1), who is in fact the coach of the new face of Spanish tennis, Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz is a two-time major singles champion, winning his first Grand Slam at 18-years-old at the 2022 US Open to become the youngest world No.1 in history.

The now 20-year-old has since gone onto win Wimbledon this year, where he became the first man to beat Novak Djokovic on Centre Court in 10 years.

3) Great Britain (48)

Great Britain take third in the overall list for most men’s Grand Slam champions, despite only having three titles since 1937.

Wimbledon was the first major tournament to be held back in 1877, and was won by a British player every year until 1907.

This was due to the fact that the event was almost entirely filled with British players in the beginning of the Amateur Era, which ensured that there would be a home champion.

The first major title won by a British player overseas was actually the first ever Roland Garros held in 1891, won by a man known as H.Briggs (full name unknown), who resided in Paris.

Fred Perry was the most successful player in this Amateur Era of British success, winning eight major titles between 1933 and 1936.

Since then, the only British male to win a Grand Slam singles title is Andy Murray. The Scot had lost four consecutive major finals before winning the US Open in 2012, followed by historic home successes at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016.

2) Australia (100)

It is a similar story for Australia, who dominated their home major tournament until the Open Era began in 1968, but they have also had multiple major winners since.

Australia’s 100 Grand Slam singles titles are made up of 34 different players, and Roy Emerson (12) leads the way with six Australian Open titles and two titles at the three other majors.

Rod Laver (11), who won a share of his major titles in both the Amateur Era and Open Era, follows Emerson and has achieved something at Grand Slam tournaments that has never been replicated.

The Calendar Slam (which is when a player wins all four majors in a single year) has only been achieved by two men in history, but Laver managed to complete it twice in both 1962 and 1969.

Rod Laver's 1969 season remains the most recent Calendar Slam in men's tennis. pic.twitter.com/P07gHM1kGE

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2021

More recent Australian Grand Slam winners include Lleyton Hewitt (US Open 2001 and Wimbledon 2002), Pat Rafter (US Open 1997 and 1998) and Pat Cash (Wimbledon 1987).

1) United States of America (147)

The USA are the clear leaders in terms of men’s singles Grand Slam champions, with 147 titles from a total of 49 players.

Pete Sampras (14) holds the most titles for the US, and in fact lead the men’s Grand Slam singles race for eight years until Roger Federer caught up with him.

2️⃣ #DavisCup Trophies
1️⃣4️⃣ Grand Slams
6️⃣4️⃣ Singles Titles

Happy Birthday, Pete Sampras! pic.twitter.com/UX8jcRQ7da

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) August 12, 2022

Similarly to Great Britain and Australia, a large proportion of the States’ major titles come from their home majors success in the Amateur Era.

American’s were so dominant at the US Open that they won 66 of the first 75 tournaments, however like Great Britain and Australia their success has significantly slowed down.

The American man to win a major singles title was Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2003, beating the aforementioned Juan Carlos Ferrero to do so.

Top 5 Countries with the most men’s Grand Slam tennis titles in the Open Era 

Some may say that there is an asterisk in the overall tallies for some of the top five countries due to the nature of the major events in the Amateur Era.

So, we have decided to comprise a list from the start of the Open Era (1968) that although is similar to the overall list, also features a country that has single handedly been lifted into fourth spot by a certain Novak Djokovic:

1. USA (52 titles from 13 players) – Pete Sampras (14), Jimmy Connors (8), Andre Agassi (8), John McEnroe (7), etc.
2. Spain (31 titles from eight players) – Rafael Nadal (22), Carlos Alcaraz (2), Sergi Bruguera (2), etc.
3. Sweden (25 titles from four players) – Bjorn Borg (11), Mats Wilander (7), Stefan Edberg (6) and Thomas Johansson (1)
4. Serbia (24 titles from one player) – Novak Djokovic (24)
5. Switzerland (23 titles from two players) – Roger Federer (20) and Stan Wawrinka (3)

???2️⃣4️⃣?? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/HqWvI14E1c

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 11, 2023

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As the popularity of the sport grew and the appeal of tournament tennis spread, stadiums (now known as a centre court) started to emerge and international stars began to enjoy worldwide fame.

When Maud Watson became Wimbledon’s first Ladies Singles champion in 1884, the world was entering an extraordinary period of technological and social change. Within a few short years, the petrol-fuelled car was invented, the first powered flight took place, and the Paris Metro and the New York Subway opened. Not only could people travel more freely, but they became healthier and lived longer as new vaccines were developed to combat ailments and illnesses that were previously untreatable. In 1884, people’s horizons were local. Just two decades later, world affairs would be on everyone’s minds.

The game of lawn tennis evolved equally quickly. The early players had been well-to-do socialites seeking amusement and exercise. What they could not have anticipated was the rapid growth of tennis as a spectator sport. Even the first Wimbledon final in 1877 had been watched by 200 paying spectators, a clear sign of things to come. Three years later, F.H. Ayres & Company provided two temporary
grandstands for the Centre Court, and by the mid-1880s permanent stands had been erected on three sides of the court, along with a sectioned-off area for the press. The name Centre Court – so synonymous with tennis today – was a logical one, for at Wimbledon’s first home in Worple Road the main court was indeed surrounded on all sides by the other “outside” courts. There are now “Centre Courts” at tournament venues throughout the world, though few are actually centrally positioned.

By the 1890s tennis clubs had been established all over the world, and Walter Wingfield’s garden game was a fully- fledgedinternationalsport. Top-level competition was still for the privileged classes with leisure time to play in tournaments, particularly where international travel was involved. Within countries and continents the train took the strain, but the pioneering few who crossed the Atlantic did so in style in grand luxury liners. The working classes were quite willing to spend a shilling (or its equivalent in cents or centimes) to read illustrated weekly news magazines which focussed mainly on the social activities of high society, and tennis was very much a part of that glamorous lifestyle.

At Athens in 1896, lawn tennis was one of just nine sports included in the first Olympic Games of the modern era, with Ireland’s John Boland earning the distinction of becoming the first Olympic tennis champion. Four years later in Paris, Great Britain’s Charlotte Cooper won the inaugural women’s tennis event to become the first female gold medallist in the history of the Olympic movement.

A new breed of tennis champion emerged in the 1890s to succeed the generation spearheaded in the US by Richard Sears, and in Britain by the Renshaw brothers. The earlier champions had played other racket sports before turning to lawn tennis, and – with one or two exceptions – would never have had the inclination to travel abroad to compete. In the 1890s and early 1900s, however, players like Reggie and Laurie Doherty had styles of play that owed nothing to other sports. They were lawn tennis players through and through, and their achievements testified to their prowess and skill. Reggie won Wimbledon for four straight years from 1897 to 1900, and his brother Laurie then went one better, triumphing in five consecutive years from 1902 to 1906. Incredibly in the 105 years since then, only two Englishmen, Arthur Gore and Fred Perry, have won a Wimbledon singles title.

In 1905, 27 year-old Norman Brookes travelled to England from his home in Melbourne to compete in the Wimbledon Championships. He came very close to lifting the title, winning the All-Comers Singles before losing to reigning champion Laurie Doherty in the Challenge Round. Two years later, he returned and was crowned Wimbledon’s first overseas champion.

Brookes’ victory opened the floodgates of overseas success. New Zealander Anthony Wilding was a sporting idol in the eyes of the public, winning the Wimbledon singles title for four consecutive years from 1910 to 1913 before losing his title to Davis Cup team-mate Brookes in 1914. A year later Wilding was killed in France while serving with the Royal Marines. He was a hero in every sense.

The Davis Cup had been inaugurated in 1900 as a team match between the United States and the British Isles, and had quickly broadened into an international competition involving many nations. Australian Brookes and New Zealander Wilding joined the fray together in 1905 representing Australasia, and that combined team would go on to win the trophy six times before the two nations began entering separately in 1923. The Davis Cup was a powerful driving force in raising standards and developing the sport worldwide, and by 1913 the desire for international co-operation was such that the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF – now known as the ITF) was formed. It had been the brainchild of Duane Williams of Philadelphia, who would sadly never see his grand vision realised, for he was one of the hundreds who died when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in 1912. His son Dick swam to safety from the stricken liner, and went on to become a two-times US singles champion. In early June 1914, a precocious French teenager

A Davis Cup player and French junior champion in 1945, Philippe Chatrier went on to serve as president of the International Tennis Federation between 1977 and 1991. A year after his death in 2000, the Centre Court at Roland Garros was re- named in his honour. won her first major title, the World Hard Court Championship at St. Cloud. Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen had been born in Paris in 1899, and her talent, personality and unparalleled success would one day bring a huge global audience to lawn tennis. However, her arrival on the world stage was to be delayed for five long years.

During the 1914 Wimbledon Champion- ships, Archduke Franz-Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Sarajevo. This triggered a chain of events that would quickly lead to the outbreak of World War 1. For the next four years, the progress of lawn tennis was halted.

This feature was orignally published in Tennishead magazine back in 2007 and you can grab your own annual subscription, which includes 4 stunning printed magazine editions and 24 issues of The Bagel newsletter.

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