Yes, the wild card won Wimbledon.
Goran Ivanišević became the first—and so far only—wildcard to win a Wimbledon title when he lifted the Gentlemen’s Singles trophy in 2001.
The player from Croatia entered the tournament ranked 125th in the world and defeated Patrick Rafter in a five-set final.
No surprise card won the Ladies’ Singles title, although wildcard entrants won the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Doubles tournaments.
Wimbledon Wild Card Champions
| The event | Wildcard champion | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Single Gentlemen | Goran Ivanišević | 2001 |
| Single Women | Nothing | – |
| Two Fats | Jonathan Murray and Frederik Nielsen | 2012 |
| Double Ladies | Serena Williams and Venus Williams | 2000 and 2002 |
The official Wimbledon records therefore list five wildcard tournaments across the three events, with Ivanišević remaining the only singles champion.
Goran Ivanišević’s 2001 Wimbledon Victory Story
Ivanišević’s victory is considered one of the greatest underdog stories in tennis history.
He had previously reached the Wimbledon final three times, losing to Andre Agassi in 1992 and Pete Sampras in 1994 and 1998. However, injuries and poor performance kept his form below the level required to qualify for the 2001 tournament.
Ivanišević is ranked No.125 and has been struggling with a serious shoulder injury that made him consider retirement. However, Wimbledon gave him a wild card due to his previous success in the tournament.
He took advantage of this opportunity.
Ivanišević’s route to the 2001 Wimbledon title
| The cycle | The opponent |
|---|---|
| First Round | Fredrik Jonsson |
| Second Round | Carlos Moya |
| The third round | Andy Roddick |
| Fourth Round | Greg Rusedski |
| Quarter-final | Marat Safin |
| Semi-finalist | Tim Henman |
| Finally | Patrick Rafter |
His path included victories over several established or future No.1 players, including Carlos Moyá, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Patrick Rafter.
The semi-final with British favorite Tim Henman was played over three days due to a rain delay. Ivanišević recovered after losing the third set 6-0 to win 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3.
2001 Wimbledon Final
Ivanišević faced third seed Patrick Rafter in the final on Monday, July 9, 2001.
The match was played on the third Monday of the tournament after rain interrupted the schedule. Thousands of regular ticket holders were able to attend what became known as “People’s Monday”, which created an unusually loud crowd at Center Court.
Ivanišević defeated Rafter:
6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7
The Croatian eventually converted his fourth championship point before falling to the court in tears. It was his first and only Grand Slam title.
The victory also made Ivanišević the youngest player to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title and the first wildcard entrant to win a Grand Slam singles tournament.
Has A Woman’s Wild Card Ever Won Wimbledon?
No player has won the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title after entering the tournament as a wild card.
However, Serena and Venus Williams won the Ladies’ Doubles as wildcard entries in 2000 and 2002.
The sisters went on to win six Wimbledon doubles titles together, but their victories in 2000 and 2002 are the only times a wildcard team has won the Ladies’ Doubles title.
Will Wild Cards Win Wimbledon Men’s Doubles?
Jonathan Murray and Frederik Nielsen became the first Wimbledon team to win the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Doubles title in 2012.
The British-Danish partnership defeated Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecău in a five-set final:
4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3
Their run included a semifinal victory over defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan. Murray also became the first British man to win the men’s Wimbledon title since Pat Hughes and Raymond Tuckey in 1936.
Arthur Fery’s Wildcard Run at Wimbledon 2026
British player Arthur Fery is close to following Ivanišević’s historic path at Wimbledon in 2026.
Fery entered the Gentlemen’s Singles as a wild card and became the first wildcard player in 25 years to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon. His quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli also moved him to the coveted position of No.36 in the ATP live rankings.
He was the first men’s semi-finalist at Wimbledon since Ivanišević won the title in 2001.
What is a Wimbledon Wild card?
A wild card allows a player to enter the main draw without qualifying for their ranking or a Wimbledon qualifying tournament.
Wimbledon has awarded wild cards since 1977. They are usually given:
- Promising British players
- Former champions or top players coming back from injury
- Players whose quality does not reflect their ability
- The players have done well in the grass court season
A wild card does not provide any additional protection once the tournament begins. A player enters with the same draw and must win seven matches to earn one title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the only wild card to win singles at Wimbledon?
Goran Ivanišević is the only Wimbledon entrant to win the Wimbledon singles title. He won the Gentlemen’s Singles in 2001.
How was Goran Ivanišević when he won Wimbledon?
Ivanišević was ranked No.125 when he entered Wimbledon in 2001. His ranking rose to number 16 following his victory.
Who did Goran Ivanišević beat in the Wimbledon final?
He defeated Australia’s Patrick Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 in the final in 2001.
Has a woman won Wimbledon singles as a wild card?
No. A wildcard entrant has never won a Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title.
Have wild cards won other Wimbledon events?
Yes. Jonathan Murray and Frederik Nielsen won the Gentlemen’s Doubles in 2012, while Serena and Venus Williams won the Ladies’ Doubles as wild cards in 2000 and 2002.
The final answer
Goran Ivanišević is the only player to win the Wimbledon singles title as a wild card.
Her victory in 2001 was particularly notable because she entered the tournament ranked No.125, having lost three Wimbledon finals and suffering from a serious shoulder injury.
Wildcard teams have since won Wimbledon doubles titles, but Ivanišević remains the only wildcard champion in the tournament’s history.
