Winning Wimbledon used to be predictable. You had your eras of dominance where a single name—Navratilova, Graf, Williams—basically owned the grass for a decade. But honestly, if you've looked at the list of Wimbledon women's tennis champions lately, it's like the script got tossed out a window.
In 2025, Iga Świątek finally cracked the code, obliterating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in a final that felt more like a statement than a match. It was brutal. It was fast. It was exactly what people thought Świątek couldn't do on grass. Before that? We had Barbora Krejčíková in 2024 and Markéta Vondroušová in 2023. These aren't the names that "experts" were betting their houses on a few years ago.
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The game has changed. Grass is no longer just for the serve-and-volley purists or the sheer power hitters. It's become a surface of survival and tactical chaos.
The Modern Chaos of the Venus Rosewater Dish
People keep talking about the "openness" of the draw. That's a polite way of saying no one knows what's going to happen.
Vondroušová's 2023 run was statistically ridiculous. She was the first unseeded woman to ever win the title. Think about that for a second. In over a century of tennis at SW19, nobody had ever come from the "random" pile to lift the trophy until she did it against Ons Jabeur. Jabeur, the sentimental favorite, has now lost back-to-back finals (2022 and 2023), proving that grass can be heartless.
Then you have the 2024 champion, Barbora Krejčíková. She showed up, played vintage, methodical tennis, and reminded everyone that the Czech Republic is basically a factory for elite grass-court talent. It wasn't about hitting 120mph serves; it was about those slice backhands that stay so low they might as well be underground.
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The Mount Rushmore of SW19
You can't talk about the current mess without acknowledging the icons who made it look easy. Martina Navratilova still sits on the throne with nine singles titles. Nine. Between 1982 and 1987, she didn't just win; she held the tournament hostage, winning six consecutive times.
Steffi Graf and Serena Williams are tied just behind her with seven each. Serena’s dominance was different—it was psychological. When she stepped onto Centre Court, most opponents were down a break before the first ball was tossed.
Notable Multi-Title Winners (Open Era)
- Martina Navratilova: 9 titles (The absolute gold standard)
- Serena Williams: 7 titles (Defined the 2000s and 2010s)
- Steffi Graf: 7 titles (The 1988 Golden Slam year was peak Graf)
- Venus Williams: 5 titles (Her reach on grass was essentially a cheat code)
- Billie Jean King: 4 titles (In the Open Era; 6 total singles titles)
Kinda crazy to think that Venus Williams won four of her five titles while her sister was also in her prime. They didn't just play the tournament; they shared it.
What Most People Get Wrong About Grass
There’s this persistent myth that you need a "big game" to be one of the Wimbledon women's tennis champions.
Tell that to Simona Halep. In 2019, she played what was arguably the most perfect match of the decade to beat Serena Williams. She made only three unforced errors in the whole final. Three! She didn't outpower Serena; she outran the ball.
The reality? Grass is about footwork. If you can’t move in small, choppy steps on the slick surface, you’re done. Elena Rybakina (2022) proved that power still works, but she also has the calmest temperament on the tour. You have to be okay with bad bounces. Grass is alive. It changes from Monday of the first week (lush and slippery) to the second Sunday (dry, brown, and dusty).
The Money and the History
Let’s be real—the history of Wimbledon isn't all strawberries and cream. It took forever to get equal pay.
It wasn't until 2007 that the All England Club finally decided to pay the men and women the same. Venus Williams was a massive part of that push. Ironically, she became the first woman to benefit from it when she won that year, taking home £700,000. By 2025, Iga Świątek’s paycheck for the win was a staggering £3 million.
The gap from 1968, when Billie Jean King won £750 compared to Rod Laver’s £2,000, is a dark spot on the tournament's prestige. But the "Wimbledon effect" is real. Winning here changes your life in a way the Australian Open or the French Open just doesn't. It's the endorsements, the prestige, and the fact that even people who don't watch tennis know what the Venus Rosewater Dish is.
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Why 2026 Could Be Even Weirder
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the betting odds are already leaning toward a Sabalenka-Świątek-Gauff triangle.
Aryna Sabalenka is the world number one right now, and her game is built for grass, yet she's struggled to cross the finish line in London. She has the power, but does she have the "grass hands"? Coco Gauff is the dark horse every single year. She made her breakthrough here as a 15-year-old beating Venus Williams in 2019. It feels like she’s due for a deep run that doesn't end in the fourth round.
And then there’s the comeback stories. Naomi Osaka is hunting for a top-10 return. Belinda Bencic, the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finalist, is playing some of the best tennis of her life after returning from maternity leave.
Actionable Insights for Tennis Fans
- Watch the early rounds: The biggest upsets for Wimbledon women's tennis champions happen in the first three days when the grass is at its most slippery.
- Look at the Czechs: Seriously, if there is a Czech player in the draw, don't bet against them. From Novotná to Petra Kvitová to Krejčíková, they own this surface.
- Check the "Warm-up" form: Pay attention to the Eastbourne and Berlin results. Players who transition quickly from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass usually carry that momentum.
The era of the "Big One" in women's tennis is over. We are in the era of the specialist, the underdog, and the tactical genius. Whether it’s Świątek defending her title or a new face like Mirra Andreeva making a shock run, the list of champions is only going to get more diverse from here.
Next Step: Track the grass-court lead-up tournaments starting in June to see which players are adjusting their movement for the low-bounce season. You can check the live WTA rankings to see who is climbing the ladder before the seedings are announced for the 2026 Championships._