Mats Wilander

Lore & Background

Wilander first came to attention by winning the French Open junior title, European under-16 and under-18 championships, and the Orange Bowl under-16 event. He made his professional debut in 1980 at Båstad, Sweden, and his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 1981. His breakthrough came at the 1982 French Open, where as an unseeded 17-year-old he upset several top seeds and won the final in a four-hour-47-minute match, becoming the youngest male Grand Slam champion at that time. He also displayed notable fair play by requesting a replay of a match ball in the semifinal, earning the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy.

Wilander won his second major at the 1983 Australian Open on grass, defeating John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. He retained the Australian Open title in 1984 and won the French Open again in 1985. After a period without a major singles title in 1986–1987, he achieved his best year in 1988, winning the Australian Open (on hardcourts), the French Open, and the US Open, defeating Lendl in a five-set final that lasted 4 hours 54 minutes. He became world No. 1 and held the ranking for 20 weeks. Wilander also won eight Grand Prix Super Series titles and helped Sweden reach seven consecutive Davis Cup finals from 1983 to 1989, winning three titles.

Reader's Guide

Mats Wilander's significance lies in his remarkable achievement of winning three of the four major singles titles in 1988, a feat that placed him at the pinnacle of men's tennis. His versatility across surfaces—winning majors on grass, hard, and clay—places him among an elite group of players. Wilander's early success, becoming the youngest man to win four major singles titles at age 20, and his sudden breakthrough at the 1982 French Open as an unseeded 17-year-old, marked him as a prodigy. His career also includes a major men's doubles title at Wimbledon and consistent top-three rankings from 1985 to 1987. Wilander's legacy is further cemented by his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002 and his role in Sweden's Davis Cup dominance. His 1988 season, where he ended Ivan Lendl's three-year reign as world No. 1, is considered the pinnacle of his career. Wilander's ability to adapt his game, notably developing a one-handed slice backhand mid-career, and his fair play on court, contributed to his lasting reputation.

Did You Know?

• Wilander won the 1982 French Open at age 17, becoming the youngest male Grand Slam champion at that time.
• He is one of only four men to have won at least two major singles titles on grass, hard, and clay courts.
• Wilander's 1988 US Open final against Ivan Lendl lasted 4 hours 54 minutes, the longest US Open singles final to that point.
• He won the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy after requesting a replay of a match ball in the 1982 French Open semifinal.