The Championships, Wimbledon with the other three "Major or Grand Slam" events, Wimbledon was contested by top-ranked amateur players, professional players were prohibited from participating. This changed with the advent of the open era in 1968. No British man won the singles event at Wimbledon between Fred Perry in 1936 and Andy Murray in 2013, while no British woman has won since Virginia Wade in 1977, although Annabel Croft and Laura Robson won the Girls' Championship in 1984 and 2008 respectively. The Championship was first televised in 1937. Though properly called "The Championships, Wimbledon", depending on sources the event is also known as
2009 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles last time where an American male player reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam until Sam Querrey reached the semifinals of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships eight years later. Rafael Nadal "(Withdrew)" 2009 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles Rafael Nadal was the defending champion, but withdrew from the tournament due to knee tendinitis. In a repeat of the 2004 and 2005 finals, Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick in the final, 5–7, 7–6, 7–6, 3–6, 16–14 to win the Gentlemen's Singles tennis title at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships for the sixth time. It became the longest men's singles final (in terms of