Yes, a wild card has won Wimbledon.
Goran Ivanišević became the first—and so far only—wild card to win a Wimbledon singles title when he lifted the Gentlemen’s Singles trophy in 2001.
The Croatian entered the tournament ranked 125th in the world and defeated Patrick Rafter in a dramatic five-set final.
No wild card has won the Ladies’ Singles title, although wildcard entries have won both the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Doubles competitions.
Wimbledon Wild Card Champions
| Event | Wildcard champion | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gentlemen’s Singles | Goran Ivanišević | 2001 |
| Ladies’ Singles | None | — |
| Gentlemen’s Doubles | Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen | 2012 |
| Ladies’ Doubles | Serena Williams and Venus Williams | 2000 and 2002 |
Wimbledon’s official records therefore list five wildcard championship victories across three events, with Ivanišević remaining the only singles champion.
Goran Ivanišević’s Historic 2001 Wimbledon Victory
Ivanišević’s victory is regarded as 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 form caused his ranking to fall outside the level required for direct entry into the 2001 tournament.
Ivanišević was ranked world No.125 and had been struggling with a shoulder injury serious enough to make him consider retirement. Wimbledon nevertheless awarded him a wild card because of his previous success at the tournament.
He made the most of the opportunity.
Ivanišević’s Route to the 2001 Wimbledon Title
| Round | Opponent |
|---|---|
| First Round | Fredrik Jonsson |
| Second Round | Carlos Moyá |
| Third Round | Andy Roddick |
| Fourth Round | Greg Rusedski |
| Quarter-final | Marat Safin |
| Semi-final | Tim Henman |
| Final | Patrick Rafter |
His path included victories over several established or future world No.1 players, including Carlos Moyá, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Patrick Rafter.
The semi-final against British favourite Tim Henman was played over three days because of rain delays. Ivanišević recovered after losing the third set 6-0 to win 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3.
The 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 disrupted the schedule. Thousands of regular ticket holders were able to attend what became known as “People’s Monday”, creating an unusually loud and emotional atmosphere on Centre 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 singles title.
The victory also made Ivanišević the lowest-ranked player to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title and the first wildcard entrant to win a Grand Slam singles tournament.
Has a Female 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 both 2000 and 2002.
The sisters went on to win six Wimbledon doubles titles together, but their victories in 2000 and 2002 are the only occasions on which a wildcard team has won the Ladies’ Doubles title.
Have Wild Cards Won the Wimbledon Men’s Doubles?
Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen became the first wildcard 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 semi-final victory over defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan. Marray also became the first British man to win the Wimbledon men’s doubles title since Pat Hughes and Raymond Tuckey in 1936.
Arthur Fery’s Wildcard Run at Wimbledon 2026
British player Arthur Fery came 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 Wimbledon men’s semi-finals. His quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli also moved him to a projected career-high position of No.36 in the live ATP rankings.
He was the first wildcard men’s semi-finalist at Wimbledon since Ivanišević’s title-winning run in 2001.
What Is a Wimbledon Wild Card?
A wild card allows a player to enter the main draw without qualifying through their ranking or the Wimbledon qualifying tournament.
Wimbledon has awarded wild cards since 1977. They are commonly given to:
- Promising British players
- Former champions or leading players returning from injury
- Players whose ranking does not reflect their ability
- Players who have performed well during the grass-court season
A wild card does not provide any additional protection once the tournament begins. The player enters the same draw and must win seven matches to claim a singles title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the only wild card to win Wimbledon singles?
Goran Ivanišević is the only wildcard entrant to win a Wimbledon singles title. He won the Gentlemen’s Singles in 2001.
What was Goran Ivanišević’s ranking when he won Wimbledon?
Ivanišević was ranked world No.125 when he entered Wimbledon in 2001. His ranking rose to No.16 following his victory.
Who did Goran Ivanišević beat in the Wimbledon final?
He defeated Australian Patrick Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 in the 2001 final.
Has a woman won Wimbledon singles as a wild card?
No. A wildcard entrant has never won the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles title.
Have wild cards won other Wimbledon events?
Yes. Jonathan Marray 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.
Final Answer
Goran Ivanišević is the only player to have won a Wimbledon singles title as a wild card.
His 2001 victory was particularly remarkable because he entered the tournament ranked No.125, having lost three previous Wimbledon finals and struggled with a serious shoulder injury.
Wildcard teams have subsequently won Wimbledon doubles titles, but Ivanišević remains the only wildcard singles champion in the tournament’s history.