1968 Wimbledon Championships
Encyclopedia
List of the 1968 Wimbledon Champions. This tournament marked the dawn of a new era for Wimbledon, as it became the second Grand Slam
to allow professionals to compete. Champions Laver
and King
had already won Wimbledon twice before in the amateur era. Ann Haydon-Jones
became the first British champion; Britain would have to wait 9 years, until the 1977 tournament
to see a British winner in the singles competition – Virginia Wade
.
Australia Rod Laver
def. Australia Tony Roche
, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
United States Billie Jean King
def. Australia Judy Tegart Dalton, 7–5 ,9–7
Australia John Newcombe
/ Australia Tony Roche
def. Australia Ken Rosewall
/ Australia Fred Stolle
, 6–3, 6–8, 14–12, 6–3
United States Rosemary Casals
/ United States Billie Jean King
def.
France Françoise Durr
/
United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5
Australia Margaret Court / Australia Ken Fletcher
def.
Soviet Union Alex Metreveli
/ Soviet Union Olga Morozova
, 6–1, 14–12
Australia John Alexander defeated France Jacques Thamin, 6–1, 6–2
United States Kristy Pigeon defeated Australia Lesley Hunt
, 6–4, 6–3
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Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
to allow professionals to compete. Champions Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
and King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
had already won Wimbledon twice before in the amateur era. Ann Haydon-Jones
Ann Haydon-Jones
Ann Haydon-Jones Ann Haydon-Jones Ann Haydon-Jones (born Adrianne Shirley Haydon on 7 October 1938 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, is a former table tennis and lawn tennis champion...
became the first British champion; Britain would have to wait 9 years, until the 1977 tournament
1977 Wimbledon Championships
The 1977 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom. The tournament ran from 20 June until 2 July...
to see a British winner in the singles competition – Virginia Wade
Virginia Wade
Sarah Virginia Wade, OBE is a former English tennis player. She won three Grand Slam singles championships and four Grand Slam doubles championships. She won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977, in that tournament's centenary year, the last time any Briton has won a...
.
Men's singles
Australia Rod LaverRod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
def.
Australia Tony RocheTony Roche
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
, 6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Women's singles
United States Billie Jean KingBillie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
def.
Australia Judy Tegart Dalton, 7–5 ,9–7Men's doubles
Australia John NewcombeJohn Newcombe
John David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
/
Australia Tony RocheTony Roche
Anthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
def.
Australia Ken RosewallKen Rosewall
Kenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
/
Australia Fred StolleFred Stolle
Frederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
, 6–3, 6–8, 14–12, 6–3
Women's doubles
United States Rosemary CasalsRosemary Casals
Rosemary "Rosie" Casals is a former American professional tennis player.Rosemary Casals earned her reputation as a rebel in the staid tennis world when she began competing in the early 1960s. During a tennis career that spanned more than two decades, she won more than 90 tournaments and worked for...
/
United States Billie Jean KingBillie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
def.
France Françoise DurrFrançoise Durr
Françoise Durr is a retired tennis player from France. She won 26 major singles titles and over 60 doubles titles....
/
United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5Mixed doubles
Australia Margaret Court / Australia Ken FletcherKen Fletcher
Kenneth Norman Fletcher was an Australian tennis player who won numerous doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles....
def.
Soviet Union Alex MetreveliAlex Metreveli
Alexander Metreveli is a retired Soviet amateur tennis player.Metreveli is probably best known for making the final at Wimbledon in 1973, where he lost to Jan Kodeš of Czechoslovakia...
/
Soviet Union Olga MorozovaOlga Morozova
Olga Vasilyevna Morozova is a retired female tennis player who competed for the Soviet Union. She was the runner up in singles at the 1974 French Open and 1974 Wimbledon Championships.-Career:...
, 6–1, 14–12
Boys' Singles
Australia John Alexander defeated France Jacques Thamin, 6–1, 6–2Girls' Singles
United States Kristy Pigeon defeated Australia Lesley HuntLesley Hunt
Lesley Hunt is a former tennis player from Perth, Western Australia.Particularly noted as a junior player, in 1964 at the age of 14 she won a rare double in the Western Australian Women's open, taking both the Open and Junior titles. She won the Australian junior championship in 1967 and 1968...
, 6–4, 6–3
- Boys' and Girls' Doubles did not commence until the 1982 Championships1982 Wimbledon ChampionshipsThe 1982 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on :grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England...
.
Men's singles
- Australia Rod LaverRod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
(Champion) - Australia Ken RosewallKen RosewallKenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
(Fourth Round, lost to Tony RocheTony RocheAnthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
) -
Spain Andres GimenoAndrés GimenoAndrés Gimeno Tolaguera is a retired Spanish tennis player. He major achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open....
(Third Round, lost to Raymond MooreRaymond Moore (tennis)Raymond Moore , is a former professional tennis player from South Africa. During his career he won 8 doubles titles and finished runner-up an additional 12 times...
) - Australia John NewcombeJohn NewcombeJohn David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
(Fourth Round, lost to Arthur AsheArthur AsheArthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
) - Australia Roy EmersonRoy EmersonRoy Stanley Emerson is an Australian former tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His 28 Grand Slam titles are an all-time record for a male...
(Fourth Round, lost to Tom OkkerTom OkkerThomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through...
) - Spain Manuel SantanaManuel SantanaManuel Martínez Santana, best known as Manolo Santana, is a former tennis champion from Spain. He was born in Madrid....
(Third Round, lost to Clark GraebnerClark GraebnerClark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis...
) - Australia Lew HoadLew HoadLewis Alan Hoad was a champion tennis player....
(Third Round, lost to Bob HewittBob HewittRobert "Bob" Anthony John Hewitt is a former professional male tennis player from Australia...
) - United States Richard Pancho GonzalesPancho GonzalesRicardo Alonso González , generally known as Richard "Pancho" Gonzales was an American tennis player. He was the world no. 1 professional tennis player for an unequalled eight years in the 1950s and early 1960s...
(Third Round, lost to Alex MetreveliAlex MetreveliAlexander Metreveli is a retired Soviet amateur tennis player.Metreveli is probably best known for making the final at Wimbledon in 1973, where he lost to Jan Kodeš of Czechoslovakia...
) - United States Dennis RalstonDennis RalstonRichard Dennis Ralston is an American former professional tennis player. He attended the University of Southern California and won NCAA championships under their legendary coach, George Toley. He was coached in his earlier years by the legendary tennis player, Pancho Gonzales...
(Quarterfinals, lost to Rod LaverRod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
) - United States Earl Butch Buchholz (Quarterfinals, lost to Tony RocheTony RocheAnthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
) - Australia Fred StolleFred StolleFrederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
(Fourth Round, lost to Clark GraebnerClark GraebnerClark Graebner , is a retired American professional tennis player, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, who won a number of championships. He graduated from Northwestern University, where he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Graebner's deceased wife, Carole, was also a successful touring tennis...
) -
Netherlands Tom OkkerTom OkkerThomas S. Okker is a former Dutch tennis player. He was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years, 1968–74, reaching a career high of world # 3 in 1969. He also was ranked World # 1 in doubles in 1969.-Tennis career:Okker was the Dutch champion from 1964 through...
(Quarterfinals, lost to Arthur AsheArthur AsheArthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
) - United States Arthur AsheArthur AsheArthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. During his career, he won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best ever from the United States...
(Semifinals, lost to Rod LaverRod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
) -
South Africa Cliff DrysdaleCliff DrysdaleCliff Drysdale is a former top-ranked professional tennis player of the 1960s and early 1970s who became a well-known tennis announcer. He was one of the Handsome Eight, signed by Lamar Hunt in 1968 for the newly formed World Championship Tennis group...
(Third Round, lost to Tom Edlefsen) - Australia Tony RocheTony RocheAnthony "Tony" Dalton Roche is a former professional Australian tennis player, native of Tarcutta. He played junior tennis in the New South Wales regional city of Wagga Wagga. He won one Grand Slam singles title and twelve Grand Slam doubles titles. He is also very well known for coaching...
(Final, lost to Rod LaverRod LaverRodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
) -
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola PilićNikola PilicNikola "Niki" Pilić is a retired Croatian professional tennis player who competed for SFR Yugoslavia. He was one of the Handsome Eight.-Biography:...
(First Round, lost to Herb FitzgibbonHerb FitzgibbonHerb Fitzgibbon is a former tennis player who was nationally ranked in the 1960s and 1970s.Fitzgibbon played four years of high school tennis for Garden City High School and never lost a match...
)
Women's singles
- United States Billie Jean KingBillie Jean KingBillie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
(Champion) - Australia Margaret Court (Quarterfinals, lost to Judy TegartJudy TegartJudy Tegart Dalton is a retired professional Australian tennis player who won nine Grand Slam doubles titles. She won at least one women's doubles title at each Grand Slam tournament, a "Career Grand Slam". Five of her doubles titles were in partnership with Margaret Court...
) - United States Nancy RicheyNancy RicheyNancy Richey is a former tennis player from the United States.Richey won two Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam women's doubles titles . She was ranked World No...
(Semifinals, lost to Judy TegartJudy TegartJudy Tegart Dalton is a retired professional Australian tennis player who won nine Grand Slam doubles titles. She won at least one women's doubles title at each Grand Slam tournament, a "Career Grand Slam". Five of her doubles titles were in partnership with Margaret Court...
) - United Kingdom Ann JonesAnn Haydon-JonesAnn Haydon-Jones Ann Haydon-Jones Ann Haydon-Jones (born Adrianne Shirley Haydon on 7 October 1938 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, is a former table tennis and lawn tennis champion...
(Semifinals, lost to Billie Jean KingBillie Jean KingBillie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
) - United Kingdom Virginia WadeVirginia WadeSarah Virginia Wade, OBE is a former English tennis player. She won three Grand Slam singles championships and four Grand Slam doubles championships. She won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977, in that tournament's centenary year, the last time any Briton has won a...
(First Round, lost to Christina SandbergChristina SandbergChristina Sandberg is a former professional Swedish tennis player. She reached the quarter finals of the 1970 Australian Open in both the singles and doubles...
) 
Brazil Maria BuenoMaria BuenoMaria Esther Andion Bueno is a former professional tennis player from Brazil. During her 11-year career , she won 19 Major titles ....
(Quarterfinals, lost to Nancy RicheyNancy RicheyNancy Richey is a former tennis player from the United States.Richey won two Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam women's doubles titles . She was ranked World No...
)- Australia Judy TegartJudy TegartJudy Tegart Dalton is a retired professional Australian tennis player who won nine Grand Slam doubles titles. She won at least one women's doubles title at each Grand Slam tournament, a "Career Grand Slam". Five of her doubles titles were in partnership with Margaret Court...
(Final, lost to Billie Jean KingBillie Jean KingBillie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
) - Australia Lesley Bowrey (Quarterfinals, lost to Billie Jean KingBillie Jean KingBillie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
)
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