Jessica Pegula, the third seed at Wimbledon in 2024, offered insights into why the women’s tournament at the All England Club has remained highly competitive and open in recent years. She noted that the grass surface creates unusual momentum shifts and key points that can change the course of matches quickly. Pegula highlighted how matches can hinge on a single net cord or a well-placed serve, which makes defending a title particularly difficult.
She contrasted the women’s format with the men’s, explaining that men play best-of-five sets, demanding more endurance and consistency to claim victory against top players. Meanwhile, women compete in best-of-three sets, where a brief period of excellent serving or a crucial break can decide the match. Pegula pointed out that dominant players on other surfaces, like Aryna Sabalenka on hard courts and Iga Swiatek on clay, have yet to establish the same dominance on grass.
She also mentioned that some champions, such as Marketa Vondrousova, initially doubted their ability to play well on grass until their breakthrough at Wimbledon. Pegula summarized the current state of the women’s draw by saying,
“To me it feels open, and it has felt like that for the last few years.”
—Jessica Pegula, Tennis Player
Overview of Women’s Singles Champions at Wimbledon Since 2016
The last back-to-back women’s singles champion at Wimbledon was Serena Williams, who won consecutive titles up to 2016. After her win, the tournament has seen a different winner each year, resulting in the longest stretch without a repeat women’s champion in the Open Era.
In 2017, Venus Williams reached her first Wimbledon final since 2009 but was defeated by Garbine Muguruza. Serena Williams returned to the final in 2018 and 2019 but was defeated by Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep respectively. Ashleigh Barty captured her maiden Wimbledon singles title in 2021 by overcoming Karolina Pliskova in the final.
Ons Jabeur reached the final in both 2022 and 2023 but lost on each occasion—first to Elena Rybakina and then to Marketa Vondrousova. Barbora Krejcikova won in 2024 by defeating Jasmine Paolini, securing her second Grand Slam victory.
The Impact of Wimbledon’s Unique Conditions on the Women’s Competition
Wimbledon’s grass courts demand a different style of play that can level the playing field, contributing to the tournament’s unpredictability in women’s singles. The surface favors strong serving and swift point construction, often benefiting players who can capitalize on key moments in shorter matches.
As Pegula indicated, without a clear grass-court specialist dominating the women’s tour, the field remains wide open, allowing various players to seize the opportunity to claim Wimbledon titles. This dynamic has made the women’s event one of the most competitive Grand Slams in recent years, attracting attention for its variety of champions and dramatic matches.
Looking ahead, the continued evolution of players adapting their games to grass could either maintain this openness or eventually crown a new player who can break the streak and defend the Wimbledon women’s title successfully.