The Countdown to Wimbledon 2024

The Pimms is on ice, the strawberries are reaching fruition, Beckham’s latest tweed blazer is at the tailor; all this can only mean one thing…. Wimbledon is approaching again. 

This year was planned to be Andy Murray’s SW19 swan song, but he may not be there after another recent back surgery. Sadly, the great Scot’s pins aren’t what they once were either, but the British public will be guaranteed of a battling effort to huge support if he does make it onto centre court one final time.

And Murray is not alone in reaching the twilight of a hugely successful career; this Wimbledon will be the second with no Roger Federer after his retirement in 2022 and Rafael Nadal won’t be in attendance either as he concentrates on his favoured clay for his own farewell tour; opting to stay fresh for the Paris Olympics instead.

Fear not though, one arm of the legendary quartet is still flying high; evergreen Novak Djokovic will pit himself against a flurry of immensely talented newcomers including last year’s unlikely winner Carlos Alcaraz and Italian world number one Jannik Sinner.

Whatever happens - come rain (highly likely) or shine (always hopeful), champers on Centre Court or beers on Henman Hill - the atmosphere will be electric.

Here we’re going to reminisce on tournaments past to take a look back at some of the most iconic Wimbledon Mens Champions and their respective hairstyles, some good and some bad.

Andre Agassi -  Champion in 1992 

I mean c’mon, where else would we start? The charismatic and much loved American won on grass, his “worst surface”, just once back in 1992 when he defeated another great champion Goran Ivanisevic in a five set epic. 

Agassi is remembered almost as much for his hair as his illustrious tennis career. As he slid to his knees in ecstasy on Centre Court, his trademark blonde shoulder length locks were cascading out of the back of a white baseball cap. But only when said cap was removed you could see his barnet in its full glory, and it looked like he could have borrowed it from Patrick Swayze in ‘Point Break’. 

This was long before the days of salt spray, and Wimbledon is a far cry from the sea-sprayed fringes of LA, so we can only assume that Andre’s beach-y look was natural. Well, that or he was a regular visitor to Toni & Guy in Palm Beach for a loose perm and some highlights. Either way, the man cut an enviously cool and rebellious figure in an era of neat short, back and sides on court.

John McEnroe - Champion in 1981, 1983 and 1984 

If ever a hairstyle was to match the personality, it was 1981 John McEnroe. The word I’d use to describe both is wild.

McEnroe claimed his first Wimbledon title by beating fellow legend (of both the game and in the hair stakes) Bjorn Borg over five sets. In doing so he halted Borg’s run of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles after losing in the same fixture at the previous years final. This was the same tournament as the infamous “you cannot be serious!” outburst.

The pre-match photos look like a promo for a new Wes Anderson movie. Both parties donning cropped red track tops by the likes of Fila and Sergio Tacchini and both rocking alice bands to contain their respective masses of barnet. 

McEnroe’s hair is an explosive curly thatch of distinction. It protrudes above the hair band with all the volume and chutzpah of rampant Japanese knotweed, and proceeds to travel well down past the ears almost to the neckline. It’s some lid.

Roger Federer - Champion in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017 (Jeez!)

Arguably the greatest player of all time, the Swiss magician pretty much ran Wimbledon for a decade or so.

Holding a record-breaking eight titles, some would argue that he knows his way around the hallowed turf of Centre Court better than the Head Groundsman. However, whilst his performances through the years have been incredibly consistent, the same cannot be said about his hair. 

When Federer first became Wimbledon champion over twenty years ago (ouch), he sported a lank pony tail which was far less impressive than his forehand smash. A couple of years later he did the honourable thing and ditched about five inches of length, opting for a wavy mid-length style which became his signature style over the next few years. 

This more flattering loosely swept style (along with his otherworldly talent) won him many an advertising contract. His mug has been plastered over ads for anything from Rolex watches to Uniqlo basics. 

It was only in his mid-30’s that Roger switched it up and went for a shorter style which he’s been rolling with ever since. The low maintenance short, back and sides style may have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he stayed at the pinnacle of the men’s game for so long, but it certainly kept Fed looking good into his forties. 

One question still remains though, why did he stick with the head band for so long?!

Fred Perry - Champion in 1934, 1935 and 1936 

Born in Stockport in 1909, Fred Perry is the only British tennis player to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments. Incredibly, his 1936 title was the most recent won by a Brit until Andy Murray’s heroics in 2013. 

So iconic is Perry (and his barnet) that his eponymous clothing line still worn by millions more than twenty five years after his passing.

Dapper on and off the court, Perry was always immaculate, and his hair was no different. Classically parted on one side and swept back on the other, neatly held in place with some pomade, his attire isn’t the only thing that has stood the test of time. 

Only time will tell if any new tennis (and hair) legends will be made at this year’s tournament, but it’ll be fun finding out.