Moment of National Pride: Iconic Moments in Tennis History
Tennis players may be citizens of the world, but they invariably take immense pride in their nationalities. Here are some prime examples of iconic performers securing triumphs not just for themselves but as representatives of their countries.
And the Nominees Are...
Ash Barty, 2022 Australian Open
At the 2022 Australian Open, without dropping a set, Ashleigh Barty did away with the 44-year drought of homegrown women’s champions, becoming the first Australian woman since Chris O'Neil (1978) to win the singles championship.
Goran Ivanišević, 2001 Wimbledon
In 2001, in the face of injury and defeat, Goran Ivanišević became the first Wild Card in history to win the Wimbledon tournament. Already touted as one of the greatest sportsmen to emerge from his home country of Croatia, Ivanišević cemented his national hero status with his historic underdog victory.
Althea Gibson, 1957 Wimbledon
On July 11, 1957, Wimbledon Champion Althea Gibson was celebrated by thousands of people upon her return to New York from England with a ticker tape parade. The first Black player to win that event, Althea would also win the U.S. Nationals later that summer and repeat as champion at b
Andy Murray, 2013 Wimbledon
Before a packed house and a peak UK television audience of 17.3 million, Scotsman Andy Murray did what no British man had done in 77 years (since Fred Perry in 1936)—win the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Championship. His win was hailed by some as the “’holy grail’ for British sport.”
Virginia Wade, 1977 Wimbledon
In 1977, thousands of hometown fans erupted into celebration and song as Brit Virginia Wade defeated Betty Stove to win her first Wimbledon singles title. The historic match and win, attended by Queen Elizabeth II, took place on the 100th anniversary of the tournament and in the summer of the monarch’s Silver Jubilee.
Li Na, 2011 Roland-Garros
With a few hundred million of her countrymen and women cheering her on, the sixth seed Li Na, who was not a fan of the clay surface, defeated defending champion Francesca Schiavone in straight sets at the 2011 French Open becoming the first Chinese player and Asian to win a major singles title.
Maria Bueno, 1959 Wimbledon
In 1959, after winning Wimbledon and the U.S. National tournaments in the same year, Maria Bueno’s native Brazil issued a postal stamp in her honor. The gesture celebrated not only her win but her indelible mark on South American tennis.
David Hall, 2000 Sydney Paralympics
David Hall represented Australia four times at the Paralympic Games, winning 6 medals overall. In 2000, in front of the home crowd, he won gold, recalling, “a match that meant so much to me and changed my life forever. It was the biggest dream I had as a tennis player to win a Gold Medal at home."
