2013: Andy Murray

"British man wins Wimbledon." It was a sentence 77 years in the waiting and it was finally uttered when Andy Murray became the first homegrown champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. A year on from his defeat to Roger Federer in his first Wimbledon final, Murray returned in 2013 eager to go one better against Novak Djokovic

It was the fourth time the pair, who were born just seven days apart in May 1987, met in a Grand Slam final, with Djokovic having won two of their previous three encounters. After opening up a 6-4, 7-5, 5-4 lead, Murray came out to serve for the match in front of an overjoyed Centre Court crowd.

In an understandably nervy final game, Murray let slip three championship points before eventually converting at the fourth time of asking when Djokovic sent one final backhand crashing into the net. The euphoria in Murray’s celebration soon turned to a look of disbelief as he made the famous climb up to his box, packed to the brim with his nearest and dearest. The long wait was over.

2013: Marion Bartoli

Marion Bartoli’s maiden Wimbledon triumph was one for the record books. At 28, the Frenchwoman, who had been defeated by Venus Williams in the final six years previously, set a new record by winning her first Grand Slam title at the 47th attempt, two more than Jana Novotna had played when she won at Wimbledon in 1998. After overcoming Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-4 in the final, Bartoli took her place on Wimbledon’s roll of honour alongside fellow French winners Suzanne Lenglen and Amelie Mauresmo. She was also the first player of any gender to win The Championships using two hands on both the forehand and backhand. Only two months later, the first-time champion announced her retirement from the sport

2013: Nadal and Federer lose early

Much of the talk ahead of the 2013 edition of The Championships was the projected quarter-final meeting between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The pair, who at the time held 29 Grand Slam singles titles between them, hadn’t met on grass since the 2008 final.

· In an unexpected turn of events, the quarter-final that materialised from that section of the draw pitted together the unlikely duo of Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot, who contested the first ever all-Polish clash on a major stage.

Nadal lost in the opening round for the first time after a straight sets defeat to Belgium’s Steve Darcis. Federer’s loss was equally surprising. The seven-time champion bowed out in the second round, losing in four tightly contested sets to Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky. It was Federer’s earliest defeat at The Championships since losing in the first round in 2002 and ended his run of 36 straight Slam quarter-finals.

2013: Bob and Mike Bryan

Bob and Mike Bryans' career can be summed up in one word, "firsts". The American twins, who’ve made record-setting a hobby, re-wrote history when they defeated first-time major finalists Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to become the first team in the Open Era to hold all four Grand Slams simultaneously.

A remarkable 12 months began and ended on Centre Court. They kick-started their decorated run by winning gold at London 2012 before returning less than a year later with the US Open, Australian Open and French Open trophies in tow. Their four-set win over the first-time major finalists in the Wimbledon final handed them their third title at the All England Club and 15th Grand Slam overall. "Everything now feels like a bonus," said Bob. "We're adding nuts, whip cream and cherries to our great career.”

2014: Novak Djokovic

The 2011 champion Novak Djokovic ruled in SW19 once again in a four-hour 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 thriller to deny Roger Federer an eighth title. The Serbian let a Championship point slip from his grasp in the fourth set as Federer stormed through five consecutive games to force a decider.

However, an emotional Djokovic clinched the fifth set to repeat his celebration of eating a blade of grass from the pristine Centre Court turf immediately after match point. "This victory meant so much to me because it was against a great rival in terrific form on his court,” said Djokovic. "Also considering the fact I lost three (straight) Grand Slam finals. It was a huge test and a mental challenge. We were pushing each other to the limits. This one was extra special."

Australian wildcard Nick Kyrgios shot to prominence with a blockbuster performance to oust two-time champion Rafael Nadal, having also saved a record nine match points to prevail past Richard Gasquet in the second round. Ranked at 144, Kyrgios wielded his searing serve and struck 70 winners to become the first man outside the top 100 to defeat a world No.1 at a Grand Slam since 1992 with an enthralling 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory.

Reigning champion Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals without dropping set, but surrendered his title 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-2 against an inspired Grigor Dimitrov.

2014: Petra Kvitova

Mirroring Djokovic, Czech Petra Kvitova also reclaimed the title she captured back in 2011 with a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over Eugenie Bouchard.

The 24-year-old needed just 55 minutes to dispatch the Canadian to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish for a second time.

"You always dream as a player to play your best tennis on the biggest stage and that was a thing of beauty,” stated 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport. “You can't even blame Bouchard because she didn't play badly but she just didn't get the chance to play because Kvitova didn't allow her to. I don't think anyone would have been able to play her today."

Meanwhile, five-time champion Serena Williams lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to 24th seed Alize Cornet in the American’s earliest Wimbledon exit since 2005.

2015: Serena Williams

Twelve years on from achieving an astonishing first ‘Serena Slam’, Serena Williams held all four Grand Slams once again.

Three victories against former world No.1 players - Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova - proved the American’s prowess.

A 21st singles Grand Slam arrived courtesy of a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline against first-time finalist Garbine Muguruza – joining the American's 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open and 2015 Roland-Garros titles in the trophy cabinet.

“At the beginning of the year, this is the one I really wanted to win,” declared Williams. “So that was the first thing and the main thing on my mind.

"I can't believe I am standing here with another 'Serena Slam', it is so cool. It has been a pleasure and an honour to give so many years in this unbelievable place."

2015: Novak Djokovic

Two tie-break sets down against the towering South African Kevin Anderson, defending champion Novak Djokovic was facing a fourth round exit.

However, Djokovic eventually roared back, defying Anderson’s 40 aces. “This was one of the most difficult matches I have played at Wimbledon in my career,” claimed the Serbian. “At times I was helpless with my return.”

Roger Federer put in a majestic performance to topple home charge Andy Murray in straight sets, to book a repeat final with Djokovic.

Same line-up, same result, as the world No.1 ruthlessly dealt with pivotal moments 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 for a third Wimbledon title.

2015: Hingis and Mirza

They were top seeds, but the triumph of Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza was a truly historic occasion.

Their battling, 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina made Mirza the first ever Indian to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam.

"Every kid that picks up a tennis racket, this is about winning Wimbledon or playing at Wimbledon one day,” reflected Mirza.

For Hingis, it was her 10th in the category, having last featured in a final at Wimbledon in 1998 en route to lifting the title alongside Jana Novotna.

"It feels like it was in another life," said 1997 singles champion Hingis. “Usually you're lucky to win it once or happy to be out here playing on the Wimbledon grounds. It's above my expectations."

2016: Andy Murray wins again

Andy Murray’s gladiatorial efforts broke the 77 year wait for a British men’s singles champion in 2013. Three years later the Scot lifted the trophy once again amid jubilant scenes on Centre Court.

The second seed soared through the opening rounds and then nullified the power of Australian prodigy Nick Kyrgios. Murray required five sets to tackle the test presented by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but returned to the final with an emphatic victory over Tomas Berdych, before dismantling Roger Federer’s semi-final conqueror Milos Raonic 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2).

"I'm proud to have my hands on the trophy again," said Murray, who lost three consecutive Grand Slam finals before this triumph, at the 2015 and 2016 Australian Opens and Roland-Garros 2016.

"I've had some great moments here, but also some tough losses. The win feels extra special because of the tough losses."

The shock of the tournament came in the third round, when three-time champion Novak Djokovic’s 30-match winning streak in Grand Slam action was ended by Sam Querrey in the third round.

2016: Serena Williams equals Steffi Graf record

Serena Williams flicked her fingers into the air to signal ‘22’ moments after equalling Steffi Graf's Open era record of Grand Slams.

The American had retained her Wimbledon title with a 7-5, 6-3 victory to gain revenge over Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, who had beaten her in Melbourne in January.

Only a single set was surrendered on the way to a seventh Wimbledon title but another trophy would follow. Serena joined Venus as the Williams sisters once again ruled at the All England Club, lifting a sixth women’s doubles trophy.

"It's been incredibly difficult not to think about it," admitted Williams, in the pursuit of a 22nd Grand Slam singles title. "It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked hard for it. This court definitely feels like home.”

2016: First wheelchair singles events at Wimbledon

In 2016, The Championships reached another major milestone with the introduction of wheelchair singles events for the first time.

Gentlemen’s wheelchair singles and ladies’ wheelchair singles were added to the programme, completing a significant progression from the earlier doubles-only format.

In the inaugural men’s singles event, Britain’s Gordon Reid, pictured below, defeated Stefan Olsson, while Jiske Griffioen won the women’s singles title.