Goran Ivanisevic Wimbledon Record: Every Year 1988

No player in the Open Era has had a more emotionally complex relationship with Wimbledon than Goran Ivanisevic. He made his debut there as a sixteen-year-old, reached his first final at twenty, lost three finals across the decade, and finally won it at thirty — as a wildcard ranked 125th in the world. The full record below tells that story year by year.

1
Title

Finals

Semi-finals

Appearances

2001

Champion

2001 🏆 Champion

Ranking: No. 125 (Wildcard) +

R1Fredrik Jonsson (SWE)W 7–6, 6–3, 6–4

R2Carlos Moyá (ESP) — No. 22W 6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3

R3Andy Roddick (USA)W 7–6, 5–7, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3

R4Greg Rusedski (GBR)W 7–6, 6–3, 6–3

QFMarat Safin (RUS) — No. 3W 6–3, 6–2, 6–7, 6–3

SFTim Henman (GBR) — No. 6W 5–7, 6–7, 6–3, 6–2, 9–7 (3 days)

FinalPat Rafter (AUS) — No. 4W 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 9–7

The defining fortnight of Ivanisevic's career and one of the great stories in tennis history. Entered as a wildcard at No. 125 — below the automatic entry threshold. Beat three former or future world No. 1 players (Safin, Roddick, Rafter). The semi-final against Henman stretched across three rain-interrupted days before Goran finally won 9–7 in the fifth. The final, delayed to a Monday, drew a public-release crowd that made Centre Court louder than any traditional Wimbledon final. Ivanisevic double-faulted on the first match point, served two more, and converted the third — then collapsed to the grass in tears. Read the full story →

1998 Finalist (Runner-up)

Ranking: No. 15 +

R1–QFReached final without dropping a setW (5 matches)

SFRichard Krajicek (NED)W 6–4, 6–2, 6–4

FinalPete Sampras (USA) — No. 1L 6–7, 0–6, 6–3, 6–2, 2–6

His third Wimbledon final and his most dominant run to one — he did not drop a set until the final itself. Against Sampras, however, he was outclassed across the key moments. Sampras won in four sets, and the defeat was perhaps the one that stung most: Goran was thirty, healthy and serving well, and had come closer than ever to lifting the trophy before Sampras took it away again.

1996 Semi-final

Ranking: No. 6 +

R1–QFReached semi-finalsW (5 matches)

SFMaliVai Washington (USA)L 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3

1996 was Ivanisevic's most consistent Grand Slam season — he reached at least the quarter-final at all four majors. At Wimbledon his run ended at the semi-finals to unseeded American MaliVai Washington, who went on to lose the final to Richard Krajicek. An upset that denied Goran another final appearance in what was otherwise his best overall season.

1994 Finalist (Runner-up)

Ranking: No. 2 (career high) +

R1–SFReached finalW (6 matches)

FinalPete Sampras (USA) — No. 1L 7–6, 7–6, 6–0

At the peak of his powers — world No. 2, the highest of his career — Ivanisevic reached the final for the second time. The first two sets went to tiebreaks, and Goran led in both before Sampras pulled away. The third set was a collapse: 6–0 in twenty-two minutes. It was the worst possible way to lose a Grand Slam final. The defeat haunted him for years.

1993 Quarter-final

Ranking: No. 9 +

R1–R4Reached quarter-finalsW (4 matches)

QFPete Sampras (USA) — No. 1L 6–1, 7–6, 6–4

A strong run ended against Sampras at the quarter-final stage. The dominant American was in full control. Ivanisevic was beaten without getting close to his best level on this occasion — Sampras simply overpowered him.

1992 Finalist (Runner-up)

Ranking: No. 8 +

R1–SFReached finalW (6 matches)

FinalAndre Agassi (USA) — No. 12L 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4

His first Grand Slam final, aged twenty. Ivanisevic was seeded 8th and widely expected to win — Agassi was the underdog. The match went to five sets and Goran served brilliantly throughout, hitting a record 37 aces, but Agassi found a way through in the fifth. The defeat sparked the decade-long quest that would only end in 2001. This final established Ivanisevic as one of the game's elite talents but left the first wound that would take nine years to heal.

1991 4th Round

Ranking: No. 12 +

R1–R3Won three matchesW (3 matches)

R4David Wheaton (USA)L 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 4–6

Improving steadily at the All England Club, Ivanisevic reached the fourth round before falling to American David Wheaton, who would go on to reach the semi-finals that year. A setback, but clear evidence that his grass-court game was developing fast.

1990 3rd Round

Ranking: ~No. 30 +

R1–R2Won two matchesW (2 matches)

R3Lost in third roundL

A promising early-career Wimbledon run ended in the third round. Ivanisevic was beginning to establish himself as a force on tour but was not yet the dominant grass-court presence he would become in the early 1990s.

1989 2nd Round

Ranking: ~No. 80 +

R1First round winW

R2Lost in second roundL

Second appearance at Wimbledon. Ivanisevic won his first-round match before losing in the second round. Still developing his game at this stage, he was beginning to show the serve potential that would later make him the most feared grass-court server of his generation.

1988 1st Round

Ranking: ~No. 200 +

R1Lost in first roundL

Ivanisevic's Wimbledon debut, aged sixteen. He qualified for the main draw as a young professional and lost in the first round. Nobody at the All England Club that fortnight could have imagined that this teenager would go on to appear in four Wimbledon finals and become the tournament's most beloved champion in thirty years.

2002 2nd Round

Ranking: ~No. 50 (Wildcard) +

R1Won first roundW

R2Lost in second roundL

Ivanisevic returned to Wimbledon as defending champion, again on a wildcard as his ranking remained outside the top 50 due to ongoing shoulder problems. The defending champion's early exit underlined how physically compromised he was in the years after his 2001 title — the shoulder injuries that had plagued him throughout the late 1990s had never fully resolved.

2003 1st Round

Ranking: ~No. 200 +

R1Lost in first roundL

A difficult first-round exit as injuries continued to limit his effectiveness. Ivanisevic was in the final stretch of his playing career by this point, making rare tournament appearances when his shoulder allowed.

The 2001 story in full → Read the complete match-by-match account of his championship run: Wimbledon 2001: The Wildcard Champion. For career-wide numbers, see the Career Stats page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ivanisevic at Wimbledon — Questions & Answers

How many times did Ivanisevic play at Wimbledon?

Goran Ivanisevic competed at Wimbledon a total of 14 times between 1988 and 2004 (he did not appear in some years due to injury). He reached the final on four occasions (1992, 1994, 1998, 2001), winning the title in 2001 as a wildcard ranked No. 125.

What is Ivanisevic's overall Wimbledon win-loss record?

Goran Ivanisevic compiled an exceptional Wimbledon singles record across his career. He reached the final four times and won the title once, making him one of the most successful Wimbledon competitors of his era. His win rate at the tournament was significantly higher than his overall tour average, reflecting how well the surface suited his serve-and-volley game.

When did Ivanisevic first play at Wimbledon?

Goran Ivanisevic made his Wimbledon debut in 1988 at the age of 16. He lost in the first round in his debut appearance but returned each year and steadily improved, reaching his first final just four years later in 1992.

Who beat Ivanisevic in the 1992 Wimbledon final?

Andre Agassi beat Goran Ivanisevic in the 1992 Wimbledon final 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 in five sets. Agassi, seeded 12th, was considered the underdog. Ivanisevic hit 37 aces during the match — a remarkable number — but was unable to convert in the key moments of the final set.

How did Ivanisevic perform at Wimbledon in 1996?

1996 was one of Ivanisevic's best overall seasons but he was eliminated at Wimbledon in the semi-finals by MaliVai Washington in four sets. He reached the semi-finals, which combined with his deep runs at all four Grand Slams that year made 1996 arguably his most consistent season outside of 2001.