Wimbledon 2015: Final Grades for Top Stars at All England Club
Was Novak Djokovic's run to his second consecutive Wimbledon title more impressive than Serena Williams' historic march to her 21st Grand Slam title? Both will receive high marks for their performances at the 2015 Wimbledon, but which will get the higher final grade? Does either deserve an A or an A+?
We included all eight Wimbledon semifinalists and then added the other best-known players to give us eight women and eight men whose Wimbledon performances were graded.
The grades were based primarily on how far the player advanced in the tournament. However, consideration was also given to the caliber of the opposition and how the player fared relative to expectations. In some cases, the historical significance of the player's accomplishment played a role in the final grade.
The star players are presented in ascending order of their grade, with the player receiving the highest grade listed last.
Simona Halep
1 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Simona Halep was not playing her best tennis coming into Wimbledon, making her a long shot to capture her first Grand Slam title. Nonetheless, she was ranked No. 3 in the world and had reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year. If she could have shaken off her disappointing French Open second-round loss, she had a chance to go deep into the tournament. A year ago, Halep seemed destined for greatness, and she is still just 23.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
This Wimbledon was an unmitigated disaster for Halep, even worse than her loss to 70th-ranked Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in Paris. Halep lost in the first round to 106th-ranked Jana Cepelova, who had won just one match in the eight WTA events she had entered in 2015 and had lost in the first round of qualifying in both of her grass-court tournaments immediately before Wimbledon.
Cepelova beat Serena Williams on clay in 2014, so she did pose a threat, but Halep had beaten Cepelova 6-2, 6-1 at last year's U.S. Open to remove any mystery. The bad losses in consecutive majors has to shake Halep's confidence. Some major mental work is required to recover. It will be interesting to see how she responds at the U.S. Open.
Final Grade: D
Rafael Nadal
2 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Even though Rafael Nadal had won Wimbledon twice over the previous seven years, there was little reason to believe he would challenge in 2015.
Ranked No. 1 in June 2014, Nadal's ranking entering this year's Wimbledon had fallen to No. 10, his lowest in 10 years. He lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the French Open quarterfinals on his favorite surface, clay, and he lost in the first round to No. 79-ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov in his final grass-court tuneup event before Wimbledon.
Even when he was playing well in past years, Nadal often struggled in the early rounds at Wimbledon, when the courts were faster and slicker than they were in the second week. An early-round loss seemed possible for the man with 14 Grand Slam titles.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Not surprisingly Nadal was eliminated in the first week, losing in the second round to qualifier Dustin Brown 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4. Brown's serve-and-volley game is perfectly suited to grass, but ranked No. 102, Brown lost in the next round.
Nadal, who got to the Wimbledon final all five times he played from 2006 to 2011, has now failed to reach the quarterfinals the past four years, losing in the first or second round three times in that span.
Injuries were qualifying factors for Nadal's performance in 2012 and 2013, but he was healthy the past two years. Whether Nadal can ever be a factor at Wimbledon again is now in question. In fact, it is debatable whether the 29-year-old Nadal can win any future Grand Slam events.
Final Grade: D
Petra Kvitova
3 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Petra Kvitova figured to be Serena's biggest obstacle at Wimbledon. Kvitova was the defending Wimbledon champion and has a power game built for grass. She reached at least the Wimbledon quarterfinals each of the previous five years and had won it twice in that span.
Her ranking was up to No. 2, matching a career high, and she had beaten Williams convincingly 6-2, 6-3 in May, albeit on clay. The one concern was that Kvitova did not play a grass-court warm-up event, withdrawing from Eastbourne because of an illness.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Kvitova had her worst Wimbledon showing since 2009, bowing out in the third round to 30th-ranked Jelena Jankovic.
Kvitova started the tournament in dominant fashion, losing just three games in her first two matches combined. She seemed to be in control of her third-round match as well, taking the first set and grabbing a 3-1 lead in the second against Jankovic. Kvitova then inexplicably lost it, eventually falling 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Jankovic is not the player she was seven years ago, when she was ranked No. 1. Jankovic had lost in the first round of the first two Grand Slam events of 2015, and she had never fared well at Wimbledon, losing in the first round three of the previous four years. From any perspective, this was a surprising loss for Kvitova.
Final Grade: C-
Tomas Berdych
4 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Tomas Berdych was a Wimbledon finalist in 2010, and he got to the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, so he could reasonably expect to advance deep into the Wimbledon draw. His big serve and aggressive style make him a threat against anyone on grass, but he lacks the consistency to be rated as one of the favorites at Wimbledon.
He did nothing of note in his one grass-court tuneup event for Wimbledon, and he was 0-7 this year against Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic, the top contenders for the 2015 Wimbledon title.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
The No. 6-seeded Berdych did nothing to distinguish himself at Wimbledon. He beat players ranked outside the top 35 in the first three rounds before losing decisively to 12th-seeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round.
Berdych had beaten Simon 6-2, 6-1 on hard courts in their only previous meeting this year, but it took Simon less than two hours to dispatch Berdych at Wimbledon. Berdych committed 30 unforced errors in the short match and bemoaned his lackluster performance afterward. An ankle problem did not help Berdych either.
Although the 29-year-old Berdych has maintained a top-10 ranking since May 2010 and was as high as No. 4 earlier this year, he has never won a Grand Slam singles event and has reached only one final.
Final Grade: C+
Marin Cilic
5 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Marin Cilic's victory at the 2014 U.S. Open, where he beat Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori in succession, all in straight sets, made him a person of interest at Wimbledon. His results at majors were getting incrementally better over time. He had his best Wimbledon performance in 2014, beating Berdych in straight sets and extending Novak Djokovic to five sets before losing in the quarterfinals.
Cilic's big serve makes him a threat against anyone on grass, even though he did nothing of significance in his two grass-court tournaments immediately before Wimbledon.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
The No. 9-seeded Cilic did about as expected, no better, no worse. He was extended to five sets before getting past 90th-ranked Ricardas Berankis in the second round and then showed some toughness by winning a second straight five-setter, beating hard-serving, 17th-seeded John Isner 12-10 in the fifth set.
However, he did not provide much of a challenge to Djokovic in the quarterfinals this time, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Cilic has yet to wipe out the suspicion that his U.S. Open victory was a fluke, because he has failed to get past the quarterfinals in any of his 15 other Grand Slam tournaments since the start of 2011.
Final Grade: B-
Stan Wawrinka
6 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
It was difficult to know what to expect from Stan Wawrinka. He had never done particularly well on the grass at Wimbledon, as his quarterfinal berth last year ended a run of four straight years in which he lost in the first or second round. However, he came into this year's Wimbledon on a roll, getting to the Australian Open semifinals and winning the French Open.
He had never accomplished much at the French Open either before this year's breakthrough, losing in the first round at Roland Garros last year. Wawrinka seemed to have reached the stage where he should compete for the title at every Grand Slam event.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Wawrinka was impressive while cruising through the first four rounds without the loss of a set. However, he was unable to finish off Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals after having a two-sets-to-one lead.
Losing to the talented Gasquet is certainly no embarrassment, but the 20th-ranked Gasquet is the caliber of player Wawrinka had been beating routinely in recent majors. Wawrinka showed his mettle by breaking serve when Gasquet was serving for the match 5-3 in the fifth, but he did not have the ability to close it out.
Although Wawrinka matched his best showing ever at Wimbledon, he is judged by a different standard than he was just two years ago. Losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals now rates as a disappointment for someone who is ranked No. 4 and had won two of the previous six Grand Slam events.
Final Grade: B
Venus Williams
7 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Despite health issues that have limited her play and knocked her ranking down, 35-year-old Venus remains a threat against anyone in a big event on grass. She has won five Wimbledon titles, and she remains one of the best-known players in women's tennis, which is why she is on this list.
Her big serve and power game along with her experience on the big stage give her the weapons needed to do well at Wimbledon this year. However, she had not played a tournament match since losing to Sloane Stephens in the first round of the French Open, so she may not have the endurance or match toughness to grab a sixth Wimbledon title. Her ranking was up to No. 16, but she did not get a favorable draw, as she was in line to play sister Serena in the fourth round.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Williams was impressive in her first three rounds, especially in her 6-0, 6-0, first-round victory over No. 36-ranked Madison Brengle, who figured to provide a challenge. However, Williams could not handle Serena's power in the fourth round.
Venus had beaten Serena in their previous meeting, a 2014 match on hard courts in Montreal, but Serena took control early this time, rolling to a 6-4, 6-3 victory. It was their 26th meeting but their first in a Grand Slam event since 2009.
Despite the loss, Venus' overall Wimbledon performance indicated she can still be a contender at a Grand Slam event. Her ranking had climbed as high as No. 11 earlier this year, suggesting she could be a top-10 player again, something that seemed impossible a few years ago.
Final Grade: B
Madison Keys
8 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Madison Keys looks like America's best hope for future stardom, and the 2015 Wimbledon provided an opportunity for a breakthrough. Ranked No. 21, the 20-year-old Keys was certainly not the favorite to win Wimbledon, but her semifinals berth at this year's Australian Open, where she beat Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams, hinted that big things might be right around the corner.
Her power game is suited to grass, and she had a favorable draw. An injury had forced her to withdraw from her third-round match at Wimbledon last year, so there was not much history on her at the All England Club.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Keys took another step toward stardom by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time, but she had an opportunity to do more. Keys lost the first set to two players ranked outside the top 100 (Stefanie Voegele and Olga Govortsova) in her first- and fourth-round matches, but she showed the resolve needed to avoid an upset.
Her quarterfinal opponent was No. 13-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, an experienced former top-10 player but one Keys is very capable of beating. Keys seemed to take control of the match in the second set and dictated most of the points.
However, Radwanska's experience showed on the big points in Keys' 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 defeat. It was a disappointing loss for Keys, who nonetheless owns berths in the semifinals and quarterfinals of majors this year and should be a factor at the U.S. Open.
Final Grade: B+
Agnieszka Radwanska
9 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Because she had reached at least the Wimbledon semifinals in two of the previous three appearances, including a berth in the 2012 final, Agnieszka Radwanska could not be dismissed as a factor in this year's Wimbledon. However, her career seemed to be on the decline, as her ranking had slipped from a high of No. 2 in 2012 to her current No. 13 spot.
Radwanska typically beats players she was supposed to beat, but she does not have the weapons to beat the elite players at a major event. Her first-round loss at the French Open this year was not a good omen.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Radwanska continued her success at Wimbledon by getting to the semifinals for the third time in four years. Aided by losses by higher seeded players in her bracket, Radwanska did not have to beat any player ranked in the top 20 to reach the semifinals. Nonetheless, victories over Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round and No. 21-seeded Madison Keys in the quarterfinals count as quality wins.
With 20th-seeded Garbine Muguruza as her semifinal opponent, Radwanska had a legitimate chance to reach a Grand Slam final for the second time in her career. After losing the first set and getting behind 3-1 in the second, Radwanska took control, reeling off six straight games to grab the second set and a 1-0 lead in the third. She could not maintain that momentum, though, and ultimately lost, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Final Grade: B+
Maria Sharapova
10 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Maria Sharapova figured to have a shot at the Wimbledon crown, if she could avoid Serena along the way. The first of Sharapova's five Grand Slam singles titles was achieved at Wimbledon way back in 2004, but she has not had much luck on the grass at the All England Club since. Only once in the previous eight years had she advanced past the fourth round, and she did not seem to play her best tennis on grass.
On the plus said, Sharapova was ranked No. 4, she had reached this year's Australian Open final, and she was healthy. She seemed very capable of beating anyone in the tournament, with one notable exception: Serena Williams. Williams had beaten Sharapova the last 16 times they met, but if someone else could eliminate Williams, Sharapova would be sitting pretty.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Sharapova reached the semifinals, which represented her best showing at Wimbledon since 2011. In one sense, she received a favorable draw, because she did not have to beat any players ranked in the top 25 to reach the semis. Her three-set victory over 47th-ranked Coco Vandeweghe in the quarterfinals was her toughest challenge. On the other hand, her draw was difficult because Serena was in the same half of the bracket and made it to the semifinals as well.
Sharapova lost to Williams for the 17th consecutive time, falling in a rather one-sided match 6-2, 6-4. Williams' power, especially on her serve, is simply too much for Sharapova, who last beat Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon finals. Since then, Sharapova has suffered 11 years of frustration against Williams.
Final Grade: B+
Andy Murray
11 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Andy Murray came into Wimbledon as one of the favorites, behind only Novak Djokovic. Murray had reached the Australian Open final and the French Open semifinals earlier this year, losing to Djokovic both times, and he won his grass-court tuneup event just before Wimbledon.
His ranking was back up to No. 3, and he always played his best tennis at the All England Club, aided by the vocal support of the British crowd. His loss in the 2014 quarterfinals ended a run of five straight years in which he had reached at least the Wimbledon semifinals, including his 2013 title run.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Murray played well throughout the tournament, and reached the semifinals, just as his No. 3 seed prescribed. He benefited from not having to face any top-20 players to reach the semifinals, but he was no match for a rejuvenated Roger Federer, who blasted his way to a straight-sets victory over Murray in the semifinals.
Murray's performance in his first five matches indicated he might be playing well enough to win the event. He won his first two matches in straight sets, then fought through a mid-match slump in which he lost six straight games to turn back 25th-seeded Andreas Seppi in four sets.
After beating No. 23-seeded Ivo Karlovic in four sets to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the eighth straight year, Murray took out unseeded Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. The run ended abruptly against Federer, however.
Final Grade: B+
Richard Gasquet
12 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Richard Gasquet always seemed to have the potential to win a major title, but his results never matched the possibilities. After several forays into the top 10 in past years, Gasquet was ranked No. 20 entering Wimbledon, and he had done nothing in 2015 to suggest he would make a breakthrough.
He had lost in the third round of the Australian Open and the fourth round of the French Open, both times in straight sets, and had lost in the second round of his only grass-court tuneup event.
Gasquet had advanced as far as the Wimbledon quarterfinals only once in his nine previous tries, the lone exception being a semifinal berth eight years ago. Gasquet is always a threat on any surface, but there was little reason to suspect the 29-year Gasquet would challenge for the title.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Gasquet had the tournament of his life and was the surprise of Wimbledon on the men's side. His semifinal berth matched his best Grand Slam showing ever, previously achieved at the 2007 Wimbledon and the 2013 U.S. Open.
What was most impressive about Gasquet's run was that he was not the beneficiary of upsets that opened up the draw for him. He blew through his first two opponents without losing more than three games in any set and then marched through a series of seeded players.
No. 11-seeded Grigor Dimitrov was considered a dark-horse contender, but Gasquet dispatched him in straight sets. Gasquet eliminated up-and-coming Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round and then took out No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, the French Open champ, in five sets. The final set lasted 84 minutes before Gasquet prevailed 11-9. Gasquet called it his "best victory."
Gasquet could not seriously challenge Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, losing in straight sets. However, his performance in the first five rounds showed he could be a threat in the next few majors.
Final Grade: A-
Garbine Muguruza
13 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
The 21-year-old, 20th-ranked Garbine Muguruza showed significant improvement over the first half of 2015, but she did not rate among the favorites at Wimbledon. She had first gained attention by beating Serena 6-2, 6-2 in the 2014 French Open, and she backed that up with her results this year.
By reaching the fourth round of the 2015 Australian Open and then getting to the French Open quarterfinals for the second year in row, Muguruza offered hints that she might someday win a Grand Slam title.
However, it did not figure to happen at Wimbledon, at least not this year. Despite having a powerful game that seemed to lend itself to success on grass, Muguruza had experienced nothing but failure at Wimbledon, losing in the second round and the first round in her only two previous attempts.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Muguruza announced her arrival as a major player in women's tennis by reaching the final of a Grand Slam event for the first time. She was fortunate to be on the opposite side of the bracket from Serena, after she got a break when defending Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova lost in the third round. But Muguruza did much of the heavy lifting herself, knocking off four top-15 players. First she beat No. 10 Angelique Kerber and then took out No. 5 Caroline Wozniacki before eliminating No. 15 Timea Bacsinszky.
Muguruza could have collapsed under the pressure of playing her first Wimbledon semifinal against experienced Agnieszka Radwanska, especially after Radwanksa won six straight games to win the second set and take a 1-0 lead in the third. But Muguruza was poised enough to close out the match, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Perhaps her biggest disadvantage in the final was that she had beaten Williams decisively last year at the French Open and had taken a set from her at the Australian Open. Although it may have given Muguruza confidence she could compete against Williams, those past results left no chance that Williams would take her lightly. Muguruza competed well, but she lost to Williams 6-4, 6-4.
Now the question is whether Muguruza's berth in the final was a fluke. She had never gone past the quarterfinals of a previous Grand Slam event, and she did not beat anyone who owned a major singles title to get to the Wimbledon final. However, her trend is impossible to ignore.
She progressed from losing in the first round of the 2014 U.S. Open, to getting to the fourth round of the Australian Open, to reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open, to being a finalist at Wimbledon.
Final Grade: A
Roger Federer
14 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Roger Federer's best chance to capture an 18th major title was at Wimbledon. An excellent grass-court player who had won seven Wimbledon titles, Federer needed one more to emerge from a tie with Pete Sampras for the most men's Wimbledon singles titles in history.
He showed he still had the stuff to win by reaching the Wimbledon final a year ago, and he had won this year's grass-court tuneup event in Halle, Germany, although he did not have to beat any top-20 players to do it.
However, the 33-year-old Federer had not won a Grand Slam title since the 2012 Wimbledon, and that was his only Grand Slam title in his last 21 majors. He had lost in the third round of this year's Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the French Open. As the No. 2 seed at Wimbledon, he was expected to get deep into the tournament, but he was not the favorite.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Federer played some of the best tennis of his career to reach the final, but that was not enough to satisfy Federer. He was unable to capture a record eighth Wimbledon title or his 18th major crown as he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic for the second year in a row.
Federer looked like a 25-year-old version of himself through his first six matches, losing just one set on his road to the final.
He crushed 20th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in the fourth round and was just as dominant in a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over 12th-seeded Gilles Simon. Federer then played his best tennis in years by getting by No. 3-seeded Andy Murray, winning 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 over the pride of Great Britain. Federer's level of play in the semifinals had to give him hope he could turn the tables on Djokovic in the final.
Federer let two set-point opportunities slip away, losing the first set in a tiebreaker, but he fought off seven set points in the second set and won a long tiebreaker 12-10 to even the match. Federer lost control of the match when he was broken in the third game of the third set after leading 40-15. Djokovic ran out the third set and broke Federer twice in the fourth set, including the final game of his 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Federer, who took Djokovic to five sets in last year's final, showed that he is still capable of winning a Grand Slam event on grass, but he has now gone 12 straight majors without a title.
Final Grade: A
Novak Djokovic
15 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Novak Djokovic was the clear favorite to win his third Wimbledon singles title. He was the defending champion and had reached at least the Wimbledon semifinals each of the previous five years, winning the tournament twice.
Djokovic has shown remarkable consistency in the majors, getting to the semifinals in 19 of the past 20 Grand Slam tournaments. He was playing some of his best tennis coming into Wimbledon, having won the Australian Open and reaching the finals of the French Open earlier this year.
Djokovic had been ranked No. 1 for a year, and his only loss in his five tournaments before Wimbledon came against Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Djokovic played his best tennis when he needed it while capturing his second straight Wimbledon crown and third overall. His biggest challenge came in the fourth round against 14th-seeded Kevin Anderson, who took the first two sets in tiebreakers. Djokovic controlled the rest of the match, however, taking the next two sets 6-1, 6-4 before winning the final set 7-5 the next day.
Djokovic dominated his other five matches on his way to the final, winning all of them in straight sets. He was particularly impressive in beating reigning U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and taking out Wawrinka-conquerer Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-4, 7-4 in the semifinals.
Djokovic had to be at his best to win the Wimbledon final, playing against Roger Federer, who was at the top of his game during the tournament. Djokovic fought off two set points against him before capturing the first set in a tiebreaker, but he then failed to convert any of his seven set points in the second set before dropping it in 12-10 tiebreaker to tie the match at one set apiece.
That tiebreaker could have been a momentum-builder for Federer, but Djokovic took command by rallying from a 15-40 deficit to break serve in the third game of the third set. Djokovic was in control from that point, finishing his 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory by breaking Federer's serve again.
The 28-year-old Djokovic has now won nine Grand Slam men's singles titles, breaking a tie with Fred Perry, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Ken Rosewall and Ivan Lendl for the eighth-most in history. He is just one behind Bill Tilden and two in back of Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.
If it weren't for Serena's bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam, Djokovic's year would be the talk of tennis. He has two titles and a runner-up finish in the three Grand Slam events this year and has lost just three matches in 2015 and only one since February.
Final Grade: A+
Serena Williams
16 of 16
2015 Wimbledon Expectations
Serena Williams was a heavy favorite to win Wimbledon for the sixth time, and it was easy to see why. She had won the previous three Grand Slam events; she was ranked No. 1 by a wide margin, and she had lost only one match on the court all year (she had lost two others by default).
Only two factors caused doubt. One was that she had not performed well at the All England Club recently, failing to get to the quarterfinals the past two years. The other was that her only loss this year was to Petra Kvitova, the defending Wimbledon champion and an outstanding grass-court player, who could pose a threat if Williams and Kvitova both reached the final.
2015 Wimbledon Performance
Williams captured her sixth Wimbledon title, but, as was the case at the French Open, she had her struggles along the way.
Heather Watson, who is ranked No. 59, served for the match at 5-4 in the third set in the third round against Williams, and 23rd-seeded Victoria Azarenka won the first set against Williams in the fourth round. She survived those threats and played her best tennis in the second week, wrapping it up with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the final against Garbine Muguruza, who had dominated Williams in a shocking 6-2, 6-2 second-round upset at the 2014 French Open.
Along the way, Williams beat three players in succession (Azarenka, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova) who each has won at least two Grand Slam singles titles.
However, grading Williams' performance is based on the historical significance of her accomplishments as much as her level of play over these two weeks. And the achievements are amazing:
- Williams won her fourth consecutive Grand Slam singles title and her third this year. If she wins the U.S. Open she will become the fifth person to sweep all four majors in the same calendar year, joining Don Budge (1938), Maureen Connolly (1953), Steffi Graf (1988) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969).
- Williams captured her 21st Grand slam singles title, leaving her one shy of the Open Era record held by Graf and three shy of the all-time mark held by Margaret Court.
- Williams became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. At 33 years, nine months and 15 days, she is slightly older than Martina Navratilova was when she captured the 1990 Wimbledon singles crown.
- Williams is 21-4 in Grand Slam singles finals, including 6-2 at Wimbledon. She is 8-0 in the finals of majors since the start of 2012. No one can question Williams' ability to win the big one.
- There is nearly a 16-year gap between Williams' first Grand Slam singles title, captured at the 1999 U.S. Open, when she was 17 years old, and this year's title at Wimbledon, at age 33. Graf, Navratilova and Chris Evert all had 12-year gaps between their first and last major singles titles. Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles were all still top-five players when Williams won her first major, and Graf had retired a week earlier while ranked No. 3. Williams' longevity is off the charts.
Final Grade: A+
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