Wimbledon has witnessed a remarkable shift in its hero status with Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz emerging victorious in the last two titles at SW19. This summer, he stopped Novak Djokovic from achieving a fifth successive Wimbledon title, replicating the 2023 final. However, Alcaraz still has a long way to go to match the all-time Wimbledon favorite Roger Federer, who holds a record eight titles. Djokovic, on the other hand, is just one behind, joining Pete Sampras with seven Open Era Wimbledon titles. Sampras once found himself in a similar situation to Djokovic at the All England Club, having clinched four successive titles from 1997 - 2000.

Photo by GERRY PENNY/AFP via Getty Images: Goran Ivanisevic's Journey to Wimbledon Final

All eyes were on Sampras at the 2001 tournament as he aimed to defend his title. But his run was ended in the fourth round by a certain Roger Federer. It was Goran Ivanisevic who stole the headlines in London, though. The Croatian, who was unseeded and ranked outside the top 100, lifted the iconic trophy. A three-time Wimbledon runner-up in 1992, 1994, and 1998, Ivanisevic entered the 2001 tournament with a wild card. When he met Fredrik Jonsson in round one, he was ranked 125th in the world and won in straight sets. A comeback was needed to overcome Carlos Moya in round two, and he again won in four sets to knock out Andy Roddick in round three. He then returned to a more straightforward win against Greg Rusedski in the fourth round and needed a bit more time to defeat fourth seed Marat Safin in the quarter-finals. Home favorite Tim Henman was up next in the semi-finals, having just overcome Federer. But Ivanisevic stood firm and narrowly edged past Henman to keep his dream alive, with third seed Rafter awaiting in the final.

What Happened in the 2001 Wimbledon Final between Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter?

Delayed due to rain affecting Ivanisevic's semi-final clash with Henman, the former faced Rafter on the Monday. The Australian had edged out second seed Andre Agassi to reach the final, seeking revenge after losing the 2000 Wimbledon final to Sampras. But he would leave the All England Club as the runner-up once again, as Center Court hosted one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time. The pair battled it out on the grass for almost three hours. Ivanisevic eventually won the five-set thriller 6 - 3, 3 - 6, 6 - 3, 2 - 6, 9 - 7. He missed three match points in the 16th game of the final set but finally managed to get over the line and became the first wild card to win a major, with his 125th ranking rising to 16th.

The Impact of Ivanisevic's Victory on Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios once said Wimbledon is "so quiet," but that couldn't be further from the truth during the thrilling encounter between Rafter and Ivanisevic. The Croatian's remarkable triumph will always be remembered. Now, he is excited to be coaching Elena Rybakina. This shows the lasting influence of his Wimbledon victory and how it has opened up new opportunities for him in the tennis world.