The first edition of the Wimbledon Women’s Singles event was held in 1884.
Maud Watson, from Great Britain, won the first title, defeating compatriot Lillian Watson 6–8, 6–3, 6–3 in the final.
British players dominated the event for a further 20 consecutive years, with seven champions crowned.
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In 1905, the first-ever non-British player won the Wimbledon title.
May Sutton was the first American to win Wimbledon
May Sutton captured the Wimbledon title in 1905, becoming the first non-British man or woman to win the esteemed trophy in south-west London.
Sutton, one of only two non-British players in the draw, began the event by demolishing Britain’s N. Meyer 6-0, 6-0.
She then knocked out Ellen Mary Stawell-Brown and W. Longhurst in straight sets, setting up a clash with future Wimbledon champion Ethel Thomson Larcombe.
Following a close first set, Sutton ran away with the contest – eventually triumphing 8-6, 6-1.
Sutton went on to defeat Agnes Morton in the semi-finals and Constance Wilson in the final.
Sutton defeated Wilson 6-3, 8-6 to claim the title.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | N. Meyer | 6-0, 6-0 |
| R2 | Ellen Mary Stawell-Brown | 6-3, 6-1 |
| R3 | W. Longhurst | 6-3, 6-1 |
| QF | Ethel Thomson Larcombe | 8-6, 6-1 |
| SF | Agnes Morton | 6-4, 6-0 |
| F | Constance Wilson | 6-3, 8-6 |
Two years after Sutton’s triumph, Australia’s Norman Brookes became the first non-British man to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon.
The last American player to win Wimbledon
Serena Williams remains the last American man or woman to win a Wimbledon singles title.
Serena – who made her return to the event this year after a four-year absence – won her seventh Wimbledon singles title in 2016.
The American defeated German star Angelique Kerber 7–5, 6–3 in the final, winning her 22nd Grand Slam singles title.
“It’s been incredibly difficult not to think about it,” she said of winning her 22nd major title.
“It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked hard for it.
The last American man to win a singles title at Wimbledon was Pete Sampras.
Sampras, a 14-time major winner, won his seventh and final Wimbledon title in 2000.
