5 Iconic Wimbledon Commercials That Defined The Oldest Tennis Tournament Over The Years

Wimbledon, the premier tennis tournament, has come to a close with the 21-year-old Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz defeating Novak Djokovic for the second time in a row to claim the trophy. Over its rich history that dates back to 1877, this prestigious tennis tournament has been increasingly popularized by some of the most iconic Wimbledon ads.

So, here we are with some of the best Wimbledon commercials that beautifully capture the beauty and passion of the game.

1. Wimbledon: The Story Continues (2019)

Wimbledon has come a long way since it was first played in 1877. The 2019 Wimbledon ad campaign “The Story Continues” chronicled these 142 years of tennis excellence.

The 60-second spot appealed to the massive nostalgia that fans had for the tournament while simultaneously capturing some of the most significant moments from history. From seeing a man step on the moon and watching the Berlin Wall fall to witnessing the first colored broadcast of Wimbledon and Roger Federer’s rise in the sport, Wimbledon has seen it all. And these are exactly the kind of iconic moments that this Wimbledon ad captures.

2. Robinsons: Wimbledon 2009 Ad

What is it like to see your favorite player lift the Wimbledon trophy? Well, ask the British, they’d know a thing or two about that!

This 1-minute Robinsons advert from 2009 showed all the agony and ecstasy of watching a British favorite make their way through to the tournament finale. At this point, the wait for a male British player to get into the Wimbledon finale had turned out to be a rather long one with Bunny Austin being the last British man to feature in a final in 1938.

As it turned out, Andy Murray finally got into the Wimbledon final in 2012 but lost to Roger Federer, only to come back a year later to defeat Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final. Robinsons made the most of this victorious moment by bringing back its original ad by giving it the much-longed-for last line “Worth the wait, wasn’t it?’

3. Wimbledon: The Stage Awaits (2022)

Wimbledon released this lovely 1-minute animation in 2022 as a part of its various initiatives to celebrate the centenary of Centre Court.

The ad features three young Wimbledon fans who are awed by the wonder of Centre Court. The ad brings together the thrill of tennis, the celebration of style, and the awe of the Club’s Grounds- all of which play a role in conjuring up the Wimbledon magic. As we follow each of the characters on their imaginative journey, we witness the excitement of Wimbledon through their eyes while paying tributes to the legends of the game- both past and present!

4. Stella Artois: Rufus The Real Hawk-Eye (2014)

Over the years, Wimbledon has become synonymous with strawberries, Pimm's and champagne, etc. But that didn’t deter Stella!

This 2-minute-advert features Rufus, the official Wimbledon hawk deployed to deter pigeons from entering the court and disrupting play. It also served as a clever nod to the high-tech camera system used by umpires to clarify difficult-to-judge points, AKA Hawk-Eye. But what has Stella Artois got anything to do with a hawk?

Well, the Hawk is symbolic of the partnership between Wimbledon and the beer brand in the early 1990s, when they used a hawk in their ad campaigns to symbolize the precision and focus one requires for both enjoying a Stella Artois and playing top-level tennis!

5. Wimbledon: Always Like Never Before (2023)

The official 2023 Wimbledon ad campaign “Always Like Never Before” used narration from US teen sensation Coco Gauff with a pulsating, blockbuster-like backing track that showcased greats through the ages.

The campaign also features another 60-second spot that celebrates some of the most memorable moments that have taken place at the All England Club’s hallowed turf since the tournament was first held in 1877.

From the greatest rivalries and the debut of game-changing new stars to the unmissable mavericks and spirited wheelchair players, the 60-second ad has got it all!

Wrapping Up

And that was a wrap-up of some of the most iconic Wimbledon commercials. As one of the oldest tournaments in the sporting world, your ad campaign must do justice to the immense prestige associated with the Wimbledon Championship. When the stakes are so high, the room for goof-ups is way too small.

We’ll be back with more wonderful commercials for you. Till then, stay tuned!