Photos: Wimbledon over the years

On the occasion of the Wimbledon Championships completing 125 years, Rediff.com takes a trip down memory lane and rewinds those glorious moments etched in tennis history.

Click NEXT to view Wimbledon's journey over time.

Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the Wimbledon Championships trophy after winning the men's singles final in 2010.

The Spaniard overpowered Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to win the crown for the second time.

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates with the trophy after defeating elder sister Venus in the final to claim the women's singles crown in 2009.

The Roger-Rafa battle was on for quite a while, and Federer had the stakes in his favour, having beaten Nadal previously in 2006 and 2007 at the finals.

However, 2008 was to be Nadal's year.

After an epic match, the longest in men's history, and a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7 victory, Nadal stood tall and finally become Wimbledon champion.

Here, Federer congratulates the Spaniard after the triumph on July 6, 2008.

The 2007 champion, Venus Williams, hugs the Wimbledon trophy following her victory over Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in the women's singles final.

Bartoli had shocked top-seed and then World No 1 Justine Henin in the semi-finals for a face-off against Venus in the final.

However, in a battle of unequals, it was the American who reigned supreme.

Rafael Nadal plays a return against Roger Federer during the men's final in 2006.

Nadal's game on clay was unquestionable and at that time critics were not sure if the Spaniard could succeed on other surfaces.

He failed to prove the critics wrong and lost the 2006 final 0-6, 6-7, 7-6, 3-6.

Roger Federer celebrates after defeating Andy Roddick to clinch the Wimbledon crown in 2004.

Federer won the title match 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-4.

This was the Swiss ace's second Wimbledon crown.

A year earlier, he defeated Australian Mark Philippoussis to announce his arrival in world tennis.

Pete Sampras of the United States jumps for a smash during the 1998 final.

Sampras beat Ivanisevic 6-7(2-7), 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the 1998 final to win his fifth Wimbledon crown.

Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic hugs her mother after winning the 1998 women's title.

Novotna beat France's Nathalie Tauziat 6-4, 7-6(7-2) to win her first Grand Slam title and only Wimbledon crown.

Pete Sampras kisses the trophy after winning the 1997 Wimbledon men's singles final, defeating Frenchman Cedric Pioline.

Sampras was enjoing a good run in the '90s and this Wimbledon crown only added to his reputation and stamped his dominance.

Steffi Graf of Germany raises her racquet and celebrates victory over Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the women's singles final in 1995.

Remembered as one of the finest matches of her career, Graf had to dig deep for a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory.

The United States' Michael Chang in action against compatriot Pete Sampras in the Wimbledon quarter-final in 1994.

Chang lost 1-6, 4-6, 3-6 and Sampras eventually won the title that year, defeating Goran Ivanisevic.

The quarter-final place was Chang's best result in a Grand Slam after his French Open triumph in 1989.

Boris Becker of Germany goes fliying as he attempts a classic dive volley during a fourth round match against Henri Leconte at the 1993 Championships.

That year he advanced to the semis, where he lost to Pete Sampras.

Andre Agassi of the United States hugs the trophy after winning in 1992.

Agassi defeated Goran Ivanisevic 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in an epic battle to claim his first Grand Slam title.

John McEnroe of the United States leaps as he attempts a shot during the Wimbledon men's singles final in 1984.

In that match, McEnroe defeated Jinmmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 6 2 for his third Wimbledon crown.

Chris Evert of the United States plays a two-handed backhand during a match a the 1982 Championships.

Evert reached the final but was defeated 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 by Czech Martina Navratilova.

American tennis player John McEnroe argues over a point with the umpire during his semi-final match against compatriot Jimmy Connors in the 1980 Championships.

After all the cribbing and complaining 'Bad boy of tennis' McEnroe eventually won the match, but not before getting an official warning from the chair umpire.

Martina Navratilova of Czechoslovakia in action during the ladies singles final against Chris Evert in 1978.

Navratilova defeated Evert 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to win the first of her many Grand Slam titles.

Bjorn Borg kisses the trophy after beating Ilie Nastase 6-4, 6-2, 9-7 to become Wimbledon champion in 1976.

This was the first of his five Wimbledon crowns.

Always popular with the girls, Bjorn Borg is surrounded by young autograph hunters during a pre-Wimbledon reception at the Hurlingham Club, in 1974.

That year he had won the Australian and French Opens and was tipped to win the Wimbledon too. However, success eluded the suave Swede, who was knocked out in the third round of the Championships.

American tennis player Billie Jean King in action against Chris Evert in the 1973 Championships.

Billie Jean defeated Evert 6-0, 7-5 to clinch her fifth Wimbledon title.

American tennis champion Stan Smith kisses the Cup after beating Romania's Ilie Nastase to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1972.

In a thrilling five-setter, Smith won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Australian tennis player John Newcombe plays a backhand on his way to victory in the Wimbledon final in 1970.

Newcombe defeated compatriot Ken Rosewall 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Australian tennis player Roy Emerson raises the men's singles trophy after beating fellow-Australian Fred Stolle in the 1965 Wimbledon final.

Emerson beat Stolle 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. It was his second Wimbledon title.

Rod Laver of Australia lifts the men's singles trophy after beating Chuck McKinley of the United States in 1961.

Laver won the match in comprhensive manner, recording a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 victory for the first of his four Wimbledon titles.

American tennis player and golfer Althea Gibson receives a kiss from compatriot Darlene Hard after winning the 1957 Wimbledon title.

Gibson beat Hard to become the first black woman to win a women's singles final at Wimbledon.

English tennis champion Fred Perry leaps over the net after beating Gottfried von Cramm in the men's singles final in 1935.

He won three consecutive Wimbledon crowns from 1934-1936 and was the last Englishman to win the Wimbledon title, in 1936.

He was also the first player to win all four Grand Slam singles titles.

French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen in action against Molla Bjurstedt Mallory in the Wimbledon final of 1922.

She won the championship that year for the fourth of her six Wimbledon crowns.