Carlos Alcaraz made history at Wimbledon on July 16 by defeating Novak Djokovic and becoming the first player outside the ‘Big Four’ (Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Andy Murray) to win the tournament since 2002. This victory is seen as the start of a new era for men’s tennis. Throughout the history of Wimbledon, there have been several matches that have signalled generational shifts in the sport. Here are five landmark matches from Wimbledon that have had a significant impact:

1. 1974 – CONNORS V ROSEWALL: In 1974, Ken Rosewall, already considered one of the greats of the sport, faced off against 22-year-old American Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon final. Connors won the match 6-1 6-1 6-4, matching Rosewall’s Grand Slam haul in the following years.

2. 1981 – MCENROE V BORG: Bjorn Borg had dominated Wimbledon, winning five straight titles from 1976 to 1980. However, in 1981, John McEnroe, a young and fiery American, ended Borg’s reign by defeating him in the final with a 4-6 7-6(1) 7-6(4) 6-4 win.

3. 2001 – FEDERER V SAMPRAS: In 2001, a then relatively unknown Roger Federer ended Pete Sampras’s 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon. Sampras, who had won the tournament four times in a row, was considered the record Grand Slam champion with 13 titles. Federer’s victory halted Sampras’s dominance at Wimbledon and marked the beginning of his own illustrious career.

4. 2008 – NADAL V FEDERER: In 2008, Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer’s bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title in an epic match that lasted five hours. Nadal’s victory also prevented Federer from surpassing Bjorn Borg’s record of five consecutive crowns. This match marked the start of a fierce rivalry between Nadal and Federer.

5. 2023 – ALCARAZ V DJOKOVIC: The most recent landmark match at Wimbledon took place in 2023. Novak Djokovic, aiming for his fifth successive trophy, faced off against Carlos Alcaraz, a rising star from Spain. In a gripping five-set final that lasted nearly five hours, Alcaraz emerged victorious, signaling the arrival of a new generation in men’s tennis.

These five matches have not only provided thrilling moments on the Wimbledon courts but have also reshaped the landscape of men’s tennis, ushering in new eras and establishing new legends.