2011 Wimbledon Championships
The 2011 Wimbledon Championships was the 125th edition of the annual grass-court tennis tournament organised by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, held from 20 June to 3 July in Wimbledon, London.[1][2]
Novak Djokovic of Serbia claimed the men's singles title, defeating world No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain 6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3 in the final, securing his first Wimbledon victory and halting Nadal's 20-match winning streak at the event.[1] This triumph formed part of Djokovic's dominant 2011 season, in which he compiled a 48–1 win-loss record.[1]
In the women's singles, Petra Kvitová of the Czech Republic won her first Grand Slam title by overcoming Maria Sharapova of Russia 6–3, 6–4 in the final.[3][1] The tournament featured notable upsets, including the early second-round defeats of Venus and Serena Williams—who had collectively won nine of the prior eleven women's titles—and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's quarterfinal elimination of six-time champion Roger Federer.[1] The longest match was Feliciano López's five-set first-round victory over Łukasz Kubot, lasting four hours and 18 minutes.[1]
Tournament Overview
Dates, Venue, and Format
The 2011 Wimbledon Championships were held from 20 June to 3 July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, located on Church Road in Wimbledon, London.[4][5] This two-week duration encompassed the main draw competitions, following qualifying rounds earlier in the month.[4] The event adhered to the traditional Wimbledon format as a Grand Slam tournament, featuring five primary professional categories: gentlemen's and ladies' singles, gentlemen's and ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles.[5] Junior championships for boys' and girls' singles and doubles, along with wheelchair events in singles and quad doubles, were also contested. All matches occurred on outdoor grass courts, with a total playing surface area of 41 m × 22 m on key courts like Centre Court and No. 1 Court; the singles court dimensions measured 23.77 m in length by 8.23 m in width.[6][5] Men's singles and doubles matches followed a best-of-five-sets structure, whereas ladies' singles, doubles, and all mixed doubles events used a best-of-three-sets format. In the deciding set of men's singles and doubles, no tiebreak was employed—instead, play continued until one player or team secured a two-game lead, a rule distinctive to Wimbledon at the time.[6] Qualifying for singles draws occurred prior to the main event, determining entrants not based on direct rankings or wild cards.[7]125th Anniversary Celebrations
The 2011 Wimbledon Championships marked the 125th edition of the tournament, originally established in 1877 by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.[1] Celebrations emphasized the event's historical legacy through specialized programming, apparel, and promotional activities designed to highlight its traditions and evolution.[8] A prominent feature involved custom uniforms crafted by Polo Ralph Lauren for on-court officials, ball boys, and ball girls, shifting from the traditional cream-colored attire to navy blue ensembles as a nod to the milestone. These outfits incorporated the brand's signature polo styling while adhering to Wimbledon's formal dress code, with the change applied across all courts during the fortnight from 20 June to 3 July.[8][9] Polo Ralph Lauren also hosted interactive events, such as a virtual tennis court installation allowing participants to measure serve speeds, further tying fashion heritage to the tournament's sporting prestige.[10] The BBC contributed to the anniversary observance with the "Spirit of Wimbledon" documentary series, comprising four films aired during the Championships. The initial installment traced the tournament's origins at Worple Road, while subsequent episodes explored iconic rivalries—such as Borg versus McEnroe and Navratilova versus Evert—and other pivotal aspects of its history.[11][12] Additionally, the broadcaster provided live 3D coverage of the women's and men's finals on 2 and 3 July, positioning it as a technological tribute to the 125th edition.[13] Complementary media efforts included retrospective video compilations of memorable moments, such as epic tiebreaks and finals, underscoring the Championships' enduring cultural significance.[14]Infrastructure Updates: New Court 3
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club constructed a new No. 3 Court as part of its long-term infrastructure enhancements, with construction commencing after the 2009 Championships and completing in time for the 2011 edition.[15] [8] This development replaced the previous No. 3 Court, historically dubbed the "Graveyard of Seeds" due to frequent upsets of top players, by demolishing the old structure to accommodate the modern facility.[16] The new court features an amphitheatre-style design akin to No. 2 Court, elevated above ground level rather than sunken, providing enclosed raised seating for improved spectator experience and acoustics.[8] It offers a capacity of approximately 2,000 seats, eliminating standing room on the show courts and enhancing overall venue efficiency during the tournament.[15] [17] Positioned adjacent to the main entrance gates and beneath the players' restaurant, the court integrates seamlessly into the grounds while supporting increased match scheduling.[18] Officially opened on June 20, 2011—the first day of the Championships—by the club's president, the Duke of Kent, the facility marked the culmination of a prior 15-year master plan phase, alongside the simultaneous debut of a new No. 4 Court.[19] [20] This upgrade aimed to modernize secondary show courts, fostering a more controlled environment for competitive play and reducing the unpredictability associated with the prior venue's cramped, hill-like setup.[16]Prize Money and Rankings Points
Point Distribution
The 2011 Wimbledon Championships awarded ranking points in accordance with the standard Grand Slam structure established by the ATP for men's events and the WTA for women's events, which were identical for singles at the time. These points contributed to players' 52-week rolling totals used for official rankings, with direct entrants receiving points based on the round reached in the main draw; qualifiers earned supplementary points from the qualifying rounds (typically 1-25 points depending on progression) in addition to main draw points.[21][22]| Round Reached | Points (Singles, ATP/WTA) |
|---|---|
| Winner | 2000 |
| Runner-up | 1200 |
| Semi-final | 720 |
| Quarter-final | 360 |
| Round of 16 | 180 |
| Third round (Round of 32) | 90 |
| Second round (Round of 64) | 45 |
| First round (Round of 128) | 10 |
Prize Money Allocation
The total prize money distributed at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships amounted to £14,600,000, representing a 6.4% increase over the 2010 figure of £13,725,000.[24][25] This sum encompassed all events, with allocations maintaining parity between men's and women's singles and doubles categories, a policy in place since 2007.[24] Prize money for singles progressed incrementally by round, rewarding deeper advancement, while doubles and mixed doubles followed separate per-team or per-pair structures. Singles prize money per player was structured as follows:| Round Achieved | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Winner | 1,100,000 |
| Runner-up | 550,000 |
| Semi-final loser | 275,000 |
| Quarter-final loser | 113,500 |
| Fourth-round loser | 68,750 |
| Third-round loser | 34,375 |
| Second-round loser | 23,125 |
| First-round loser | 11,500 |
Participants and Entries
Seeded Players
The seeded players in the men's and women's singles draws at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships were selected based on ATP and WTA rankings as of mid-June 2011, with 32 seeds each to mitigate early-round clashes among top-ranked competitors.[29]Men's Singles Seeds
| Seed | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rafael Nadal | Spain |
| 2 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia |
| 3 | Roger Federer | Switzerland |
| 4 | Andy Murray | Great Britain |
| 5 | Robin Söderling | Sweden |
| 6 | Tomáš Berdych | Czech Republic |
| 7 | David Ferrer | Spain |
| 8 | Andy Roddick | United States |
| 9 | Gaël Monfils | France |
| 10 | Mardy Fish | United States |
| 11 | Jürgen Melzer | Austria |
| 12 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | France |
| 13 | Viktor Troicki | Serbia |
| 14 | Stanislas Wawrinka | Switzerland |
| 15 | Gilles Simon | France |
| 16 | Nicolás Almagro | Spain |
| 17 | Richard Gasquet | France |
| 18 | Mikhail Youzhny | Russia |
| 19 | Michael Llodra | France |
| 20 | Florian Mayer | Germany |
| 21 | Fernando Verdasco | Spain |
| 22 | Alexandr Dolgopolov | Ukraine |
| 23 | Janko Tipsarević | Serbia |
| 24 | Juan Martín del Potro | Argentina |
| 25 | Juan Ignacio Chela | Argentina |
| 26 | Guillermo García-López | Spain |
| 27 | Marin Čilić | Croatia |
| 28 | David Nalbandian | Argentina |
| 29 | Nikolay Davydenko | Russia |
| 30 | Thomaz Bellucci | Brazil |
| 31 | Milos Raonic | Canada |
| 32 | Marcos Baghdatis | Cyprus |
Women's Singles Seeds
| Seed | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caroline Wozniacki | Denmark |
| 2 | Vera Zvonareva | Russia |
| 3 | Li Na | China |
| 4 | Victoria Azarenka | Belarus |
| 5 | Maria Sharapova | Russia |
| 6 | Francesca Schiavone | Italy |
| 7 | Serena Williams | United States |
| 8 | Petra Kvitová | Czech Republic |
| 9 | Marion Bartoli | France |
| 10 | Samantha Stosur | Australia |
| 11 | Andrea Petković | Germany |
| 12 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | Russia |
| 13 | Agnieszka Radwańska | Poland |
| 14 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova | Russia |
| 15 | Jelena Janković | Serbia |
| 16 | Julia Görges | Germany |
| 17 | Kaia Kanepi | Estonia |
| 18 | Ana Ivanovic | Serbia |
| 19 | Yanina Wickmayer | Belgium |
| 20 | Peng Shuai | China |
| 21 | Flavia Pennetta | Italy |
| 22 | Shahar Pe'er | Israel |
| 23 | Venus Williams | United States |
| 24 | Dominika Cibulková | Slovakia |
| 25 | Daniela Hantuchová | Slovakia |
| 26 | Maria Kirilenko | Russia |
| 27 | Jarmila Gajdošová | Australia |
| 28 | Ekaterina Makarova | Russia |
| 29 | Roberta Vinci | Italy |
| 30 | Bethanie Mattek-Sands | United States |
| 31 | Lucie Šafářová | Czech Republic |
| 32 | Tsvetana Pironkova | Bulgaria |
Wild Card Entries
The wild card entries for the 2011 Wimbledon Championships singles main draws consisted primarily of British players to foster home interest, alongside select international recipients based on recent performances or historical ties to the tournament.[30][31] Eight British players received initial wild cards across the men's and women's singles events.[30] In men's singles, the wild cards went to Britain's Daniel Cox, Daniel Evans, and James Ward; France's Arnaud Clément; and Colombia's Alejandro Falla.[30] Additional late entries were awarded to Luxembourg's Gilles Müller and Israel's Dudi Sela.[32]| Event | Players (Nationality) |
|---|---|
| Men's Singles | Daniel Cox (GBR), Daniel Evans (GBR), James Ward (GBR), Arnaud Clément (FRA), Alejandro Falla (COL), Gilles Müller (LUX), Dudi Sela (ISR) |
| Event | Players (Nationality) |
|---|---|
| Women's Singles | Naomi Broady (GBR), Katie O'Brien (GBR), Laura Robson (GBR), Heather Watson (GBR), Emily Webley-Smith (GBR), Sabine Lisicki (GER) |
Qualifier Entries
The qualifying rounds for the 2011 Wimbledon Championships singles events were conducted from 13 to 17 June 2011 at the Bank of England Sports Ground in Roehampton, London, prior to the main draw commencing on 20 June.[34] Each singles qualifying draw featured 128 players competing in three rounds, with the 16 winners in men's and women's singles advancing to the 128-player main draw at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.[35] In men's singles qualifying, notable advancers included Bernard Tomic of Australia, ranked No. 195 entering the tournament, who won three matches to qualify before defeating former world No. 1 Andy Roddick in the second round and reaching the fourth round overall.[36] Łukasz Kubot of Poland also qualified and progressed to the fourth round, highlighted by a third-round upset over seventh seed Feliciano López.[37] Other qualifiers who made impacts in the main draw included Robin Haase of the Netherlands, who took a set from tenth seed Mardy Fish in the second round, and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who advanced to the third round.[38] Women's singles qualifiers similarly filled 16 main-draw spots, with competitors emerging from the rigorous grass-court preparation phase. While specific standout runs from qualifiers were less prominent amid seeded players' dominance, the process ensured opportunities for lower-ranked players to compete on the historic lawns. Qualifying success often hinged on adaptation to grass surfaces, with winners demonstrating strong serving and net play essential for the main event.Protected Rankings and Withdrawals
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club accepted players into the main draw using protected rankings, a system allowing competitors absent for at least six months due to injury or other reasons to enter based on their ranking prior to the absence, provided the protection period had not expired. In the men's singles, Fernando González of Chile utilized a protected ranking to compete, having been sidelined by hip injuries; he advanced to the third round before losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.[39] Ivo Karlović of Croatia also entered via protected ranking while holding an active ranking of 143, reflecting his recovery from prior injuries; he exited in the second round.[40] No women players were reported to have used protected rankings for direct main draw entry in 2011. Prior to the main draw, notable withdrawals included Kim Clijsters of Belgium, the second seed and reigning US Open champion, who cited a foot injury sustained during practice as the reason, leading to her replacement by a lucky loser.[41][42] Andrea Petkovic of Germany withdrew due to incomplete recovery from a right ankle injury suffered earlier in the season.[43] These absences opened spots filled by alternates or qualifiers, though comprehensive lists of all lower-ranked withdrawals were not publicly detailed beyond top players.Competition Summaries
Day-by-Day Highlights
Day 1 (20 June)First-round matches began under overcast skies, with rain causing multiple interruptions on outer courts. Defending champion Rafael Nadal started his title defense on Centre Court with a decisive 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 victory over American qualifier Michael Russell. Home favorite Andy Murray opened against Spain's Daniel Gimeno-Traver, advancing in straight sets amid the damp conditions.[44][45] Day 2 (21 June)
Second-round preparation mixed with remaining first-round fixtures, as persistent rain limited play. A highly anticipated rematch of the 2010 epic saw John Isner defeat Nicolas Mahut 7–6(4), 6–2, 7–6(8) on the newly built Court 3, avoiding another marathon. Top seeds continued to progress, though outer-court schedules were compressed.[46] Day 3 (22 June)
Second-round action dominated, with fewer weather disruptions. Seeds like Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitová handled their opponents routinely, setting up third-round clashes. British interest waned as several home players exited early.[47] Day 4 (23 June)
The Centre Court roof was closed for the first time due to rain, allowing uninterrupted play indoors. Six-time champion Roger Federer dispatched France's Adrian Mannarino 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 in efficient fashion. Other top players, including Serena Williams, advanced without major incident.[48] Days 5–6 (24–25 June)
Third-round matches unfolded across both days, thinning the field significantly. Djokovic mounted a comeback from two sets down against Alejandro Falla, saving two match points to win and maintain his unbeaten Grand Slam streak for the year. Women's side saw consistent performances from favorites like Kvitová and Maria Sharapova.[47] Day 7 (26 June)
No competitive play occurred, adhering to the traditional rest day before the second week. Day 8 (27 June)
Round-of-16 encounters highlighted the day. Federer overcame Mikhail Youzhny 6–7(5), 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 to reach the quarterfinals. Djokovic dispatched Bernard Tomic in four sets, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, showcasing resilience. Nadal and Murray also progressed.[49][50] Day 9 (28 June)
Quarterfinals commenced in the women's draw, with Kvitová upsetting Victoria Azarenka 6–1, 3–6, 6–2 to reach the semifinals. Men's round-of-16 concluded, ensuring a strong field for subsequent rounds.[50] Day 10 (29 June)
Men's quarterfinals delivered drama, as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stunned Federer 3–6, 6–7(5), 6–4, 6–4, 7–6(8) in a five-set thriller lasting over four hours, marking one of the tournament's standout upsets. Murray defeated Feliciano López, while Nadal beat Mardy Fish.[51][47] Day 11 (30 June)
Women's semifinals saw Kvitová defeat Angelique Kerber 6–3, 7–5, and Sharapova overcome Sabine Lisicki 6–3, 6–1, setting up an all-new final pairing.[47] Day 12 (1 July)
Men's semifinals featured Djokovic edging Tsonga in five sets, 6–3, 6–2, 6–7(2), 3–6, 9–7 after over three hours, and Nadal outlasting Murray 5–7, 6–2, 6–2, 6–3. Both victors displayed high-level grass-court prowess.[47][50] Day 13 (2 July)
The women's final saw eighth seed Petra Kvitová claim her first Grand Slam title, overpowering fifth seed Maria Sharapova 6–3, 6–4 with powerful left-handed groundstrokes and 9 aces. Day 14 (3 July)
In the men's final, Djokovic defeated Nadal 6–4, 6–1, 1–6, 6–3 to secure his first Wimbledon crown and ascend to world No. 1, ending Nadal's two-year reign with dominant serving and baseline play in the 2-hour-28-minute encounter.[52][47]