Wimbledon’ s Most Emotional Matches Featuring Murray, Jabeur And Goran

Wimbledon starts on Monday with Carlos Alcaraz opening up his title defense in the searing heat. Alcaraz will walk past the famous Rudyard Kipling quote written above the entrance to Centre Court when he faces Fabio Fognini. “If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same,” is taken from Kipling’s poem If. ‘If only’ are words that can haunt a tennis star to the grave.

Here are five memorable moments of triumph and despair at Wimbledon.

1. Jana Novota Cries on The Duchess Of Kent’s Shoulder After Losing 1993 Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Final

Current Wimbledon ladies singles champion Barbora Krejcikova revealed that her mentor and former coach, the late Jana Novotna, told her to win a Grand Slam.

Novotna’s path to Wimbledon glory was as tough as it gets. In 1993, she was a double break up on defending champion Steffi Graf in the final set after a super performance of deft volleys, soft hands and tactical nous. When the ultimate prize came into view, her game collapsed as Graf took the last five games in a row.

A devastated Novotna broke down during the trophy ceremony as the Duchess of Kent consoled the Czech with a hug, reassuring her that she would win the title one day. “That’s what you do when people are crying,” the Duchess told the BBC. Five years later, that dream came true when Novotna beat Nathalie Tauziat.

2. Wild Card Goran Ivanisevic Wins Wimbledon at his Fourth Attempt in 2001

In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic hadn’t given up on his “destiny” of winning at SW19 although the AELTC had to give him a wild card. The Croat had been runner-up three times in the 1990s but was now ranked world No. 125.

Ivanisevic made the most of his last chance saloon, beating Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and home favorite Tim Henman over a three-day semi on the way to a showdown against Pat Rafter.

The crowd came on the 15th day – ‘People’s Monday’ – after a wet end to the tournament, giving the men’s final a carnival atmosphere. When serving at 8-7 in the fifth, Ivanisevic was so nervous, he produced double faults on two Championship points and could barely lift his arms.

Eventually, the 29-year-old found a 109 mph second serve and Rafter netted. The tears of relief flowed as Ivanisevic climbed up the stadium to embrace his father. This was a manic Monday as Wimbledon entered a new Millennium.

3. Andy Murray Cries After Losing to Roger Federer in 2012 Wimbledon Final

Andy Murray made it all the way to the Wimbledon final in 2012 as the British crowd bayed for a new hero. The Scot’s issue was that he had lost his previous three Slam finals and was playing the master of Centre Court, Roger Federer.

After winning his first-ever set in a major final, Murray was a break up in the second before Federer began to change tactics. When the roof was closed through inclement weather, there was only one winner. The Swiss prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 and Murray’s sadness was there for all to see as he spoke to the BBC’s Sue Barker.

Yet, it was those four minutes of tears and torment that channeled something he could use four weeks later when beating Federer in the 2012 Olympic final at the same venue.

4. Marin Cilic Breaks Down in Body And Mind Against Roger Federer in 2017 Wimbledon Final

Marin Cilic was the man who could beat Roger Federer in a major if all things were equal. In the 2014 U.S. Open semi, the Croatian steamrollered the Swiss.

Federer’s private grass lawn on Centre Court was a different matter, although the 28-year-old had taken the seven-time Wimbledon champion to five sets the year before.

Cilic was never in the contest because of a foot blister that was causing havoc with pain and movement, something that was imperative against the balletic Federer. Cilic couldn’t handle the emotional frustration of not being able to do what comes naturally and broke down at 0-3 in the second set with the tournament supervisor and referee at his chair.

“It was just a feeling that I knew that I cannot give my best on the court, that I cannot give my best game and my best tennis, especially at this stage of my career, at such a big match,” said the seventh seed later.

5. Ons Jabeur Suffers Most Painful Loss in 2023 Wimbledon Final

Ons Jabeur brought a sparkle and a sprinkle of magic to Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, reaching consecutive finals. The popular Tunisian was a set up against Elena Rybakina before being overpowered in the next two, but had her shot at redemption just 12 months later against the unseeded Marketa Vondrousova.

This was surely the 2022 U.S. Open finalist’s year after she overcame four major champions on the way to the second Saturday, including Rybakina and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

Unfortunately, nerves destroyed the mechanics of Jabeur’s old-school game as she struggled to deal with the slice and spin of her unfancied opponent. It was almost an end to the agony when she lost match in straight sets.

“This is the most painful loss of my career,” is some opening to a post-match speech. It was a pitch-perfect description, but Jabeur forgot her most important lines on the grass.

Wimbledon is a tournament that brings those repressed emotions to the fore, win or lose. There’s something about the forces of nature in the English garden of SW19.