The 1977 Wimbledon Championships marked the centenary of the world's oldest tennis tournament, first held in 1877. The tournament was memorable for Virginia Wade becoming the last British player to win a singles title at Wimbledon for 36 years, with Queen Elizabeth II presenting the trophy during her Silver Jubilee year. Björn Borg won his second consecutive men's singles title, defeating Jimmy Connors in a five-set final. Eighteen-year-old qualifier John McEnroe announced his arrival on the world stage by reaching the semifinals.
The 1977 Wimbledon Championships opened on June 20, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Wimbledon tournament held in 1877. The All England Club hosted special centenary festivities throughout the fortnight, including a parade of former champions. The tournament featured 128 players in both men's and women's singles draws.
Eighteen-year-old John McEnroe, playing as a qualifier, began a remarkable run through the men's singles draw. The American amateur defeated several seeded players en route to becoming the first qualifier to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, stunning the tennis world with his talent and fiery on-court demeanor.
Virginia Wade, Britain's top female player, defeated defending champion and world number one Chris Evert in the women's semifinals. Wade won 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon final for the first time since 1972, giving British fans hope of a home champion in the centenary year.
In the men's semifinals, Jimmy Connors ended John McEnroe's fairy-tale run with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory. In the other semifinal, Björn Borg defeated Brian Gottfried in straight sets to advance to his second consecutive Wimbledon final, setting up a rematch of the 1976 final against Connors.
Virginia Wade defeated Betty Stove of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the women's singles final to become the first British woman to win Wimbledon since Angela Mortimer in 1961. Queen Elizabeth II, attending Wimbledon for the first time since 1962, presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to Wade in a moment that became iconic in British sporting history during the Silver Jubilee year.
Björn Borg defeated Jimmy Connors in a thrilling five-set final, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, to retain his Wimbledon men's singles title. The match lasted nearly three hours and showcased Borg's exceptional baseline play and mental toughness. It was Borg's second of five consecutive Wimbledon titles (1976-1980).
The centenary Wimbledon Championships concluded with Björn Borg and Virginia Wade as singles champions. The tournament was widely celebrated as a landmark event in tennis history, combining the pageantry of 100 years of Wimbledon with memorable on-court achievements. Wade's victory remains the last by a British player in a Wimbledon singles final until Andy Murray's triumph in 2013.