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The best players, a rich history and some epic matches throughout the years - no wonder Wimbledon is considered such an iconic event.

As this year’s tennis spectacular draws closer, we looked at some of the stand-out moments which have made the world’s oldest and most famous tennis tournament what it is.

John Isner and Nicolas Mahut keep going, and going, and going….

Tennis, and Wimbledon in particular, is renowned for matches that can last a while.

It’s not uncommon for play to sometimes last all day when the players just can’t be separated.

But the contest between American Isner and his French opponent Mahut in 2010 defied all expectations.

The men’s singles first round match didn’t get much attention at first, as an early game in the competition between two players who were not particularly famous.

That all changed by the end of a historic encounter that was slugged-out over three days!

It began at 6.13 pm on a Tuesday, 22 June 2010 and was suspended at 9.07pm that night due to the fading daylight before the start of the fifth set,They resumed the action the next day at 2.05 pm and the record for the longest match was already broken at 5.45 pm.

Still play continued until darkness set in again, and the epic match started its third day the next afternoon - only for Isner to eventually win at 4:47pm.

The final set alone lasted for eight hours, 11 minutes. lt's enough to make you feel exhausted just reading about it.

Both players broke lots of Wimbledon and tennis records during their remarkable clash, including each serving over 100 aces. No wonder it was called ‘The endless match’.

“It stinks someone had to lose,” said Isner on court afterwards, and the two went on to become good friends.

Singing in the Rain

Unfortunately, one thing you can never rule out in an English summer is rain.

So in 1996 everyone was a bit fed-up when heavy showers meant play had to be stopped on the showpiece Centre Court.

But nobody had time to cry into their strawberries and cream, because British pop legend Cliff Richard was in the crowd, and to cheer everyone up, he grabbed a mic and performed an impromptu concert.

Sir Cliff blasted out a few of his biggest hits as the crowd joined in clapping and singing along under their umbrellas.

Several famous people at the time joined in with the backing vocals as the rain hammered down, including a selection of tennis legends, and like a true showman Cliff kept his audience entertained for almost 20 minutes - enjoying great applause when he completed his last-minute setlist.

The wait was finally over

Considering Wimbledon is one of the UK’s most famous sporting events, a British man hadn’t won the singles title since 1936 by the time the tournament started in 2013.

There had been contenders - like Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski - but none had managed to lift the elusive men’s singles final trophy.

Step forward Scotland’s Andy Murray, who was in great form as he reached the final that year, although he had his work cut out on a scorching hot day, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees on Centre Court as he had to overcome superstar Novak Djokovic to win.

Murray wouldn’t be denied his big moment though and triumphed in three straight sets before celebrating by hugging his mum.

There was a VIP crowd to see his long-awaited victory too, with Hollywood star Bradley Cooper, footballer Wayne Rooney and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham all present.

Sister sister

Serena and Venus Williams would go on to become Wimbledon - and world tennis - legends with so many famous wins that last year a Hollywood film about their childhood, King Richard, hit the screens and was nominated for major awards.

But the 2002 Wimbledon women’s final was special because it was the first time the sisters faced each other in the big match.

Although Venus is the older sibling by two years, and was defending champion that year, it was Serena’s time to shine and she didn’t drop a single set on her way to victory.

The rivalry was fierce but afterwards the pair congratulated each other and Venus reminded her little sister to curtsy - a traditional greeting for women presented to a member of the Royal Family - when being handed the trophy.

“No one told me the first year that you have to curtsy, so I was just running around like a fool,'' she said afterwards. ”I made it a point to tell her that you have to curtsy.”

Serena said her win was “really fun” and added: “It was a good match to watch.''

Another jubilee and a British win

2022 marks the Queen’s platinum jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her taking the throne. She’s the first British monarch to celebrate one. Back in 1977, she was being applauded for her Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years on the throne.

Girl Power was certainly in the air over London as Queen Elizabeth attended the women’s final and watched as Britain's Virginia Wade beat Holland’s Betty Stove to clinch the title.

The Queen hadn’t been to Wimbledon for 15 years before that summer and was obviously a good luck omen for Wade - who is still the last British woman to have won Wimbledon to this day.

Fingers crossed Emma Raducanu can change that soon.

This article was published in June 2022.