2003 Wimbledon Championships — 117th staging of the Wimbledon Championships
Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon 2003, beginning a run of five consecutive Championships victories.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 117th Wimbledon Championships
- Dates
- 23 June – 6 July 2003
- Men's Singles Winner
- Roger Federer (first Grand Slam title)
- Women's Singles Winner
- Serena Williams (defended 2002 title)
- First-round defending champion upset
- Hewitt lost to Karlović (first in Open Era)
- Royal Box bowing
- Last year players required to bow on Centre Court
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on grass courts, the 2003 Wimbledon Championships served as the third Grand Slam of the year. Defending men's champion Lleyton Hewitt entered the tournament but faced Grand Slam debutant Ivo Karlović in the first round, marking an unusual early-stage upset of a title holder.
Roger Federer defeated Mark Philippoussis in the men's singles final to claim his first Grand Slam title. Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams in the women's final for the second consecutive year, successfully retaining her title. Notably, Hewitt's first-round loss to Karlović was the first time in the Open Era that a defending Wimbledon champion had fallen in the opening round.
Federer's victory launched a dominant run of five consecutive Wimbledon titles and eight overall, reshaping men's tennis. The 2003 Championships also marked a cultural change: players were no longer required to bow or curtsy to the Royal Box on Centre Court, ending a longstanding tradition at the tournament.
Result
at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon