1954: Maureen Connolly

Meteoric rise is a description, which applies to a chosen few. By 1954, after playing in the Championships at Wimbledon just three times, Maureen ‘Little Mo’ Connolly (pictured above) had completely fitted the bill. She became the youngest player to win the US title in 1951, she won three Wimbledon titles running, and in two years had won a Grand Slam of the game’s major crowns.

At Wimbledon in 1954, the piercing returns which Connolly produced made the difference against the vastly more experienced American Louise Brough.

Connolly hit her ground-strokes with pace and precision and there was something grimly predictable about her win, even if Brough held a 5-2 lead in the second set. Connolly won 6-2, 7-5, but was still not fully developed as a player.

The 1954 Wimbledon was Connolly’s last. That same summer she broke her leg in a riding accident and that ended her career. She died in 1969.

1956: Lew Hoad v Ken Rosewall

They were called the "Tennis Twins," the incredible young Australians Lew Hoad (below right) and Ken Rosewall (below left) who set the world of tennis alight when they first came to Wimbledon in 1952 as 17-year-olds.

The powerful Hoad and the lighter and gifted Rosewall, with his delicate touch, came through the doubles event to reach the semi-finals at the first attempt and were doubles champions the next year. But that was just a taster of the two Aussies who were born within three weeks of each other in two closely placed suburbs of Sydney, and fate was to lead them towards just one Wimbledon singles final in 1956. The belief at the time was that Hoad, all dynamic power, would outhit Rosewall, no matter his fine ground-strokes, quick reactions at the net and confidence.

The final was magnificent, with Hoad opening up a precious lead of two sets to one. Then, if Hoad’s control was under threat when Rosewall led 4-1 in the fourth set it was only briefly. Hoad took five games in a row,and became a compelling champion, defending successfully the next year as well. With Rosewall, he won the doubles that year and also in 1953. Hoad never won Wimbledon again, Rosewall never won.