Todd Woodbridge, best known for his historic doubles achievements, completed a playing career also notable for several quirky, unique stats.
In 2024 we recounted the story of how he became the first player to officially win a match at the Australian Open’s new home of Melbourne Park (then Flinders Park) in 1988.
On this week’s episode of The Sit-Down podcast, it emerged Woodbridge has attained even more fascinating milestones at Wimbledon.
This year, several top players – including enduring stars Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula – revealed they were making their Centre Court debuts at this year’s Wimbledon. Yet Woodbridge’s very first Wimbledon main-draw singles match played out on that storied court, as a 17-year-old qualifier who drew defending champion Pat Cash in the first round in 1988.
In 1989, Woodbridge’s first-round opponent was Pete Sampras, who was debuting in a tournament he would come to dominate. Woodbridge won that match against the future seven-time champion.
And in 2001, in the final round of qualifying, he dished out a rare 6-0 6-0 6-0 defeat to Swede Johan Ortegren.
There have been just six “triple bagels” recorded in men’s Grand Slam tournaments in the Open era; Woodbridge remains the last player to achieve the feat.
He remembers it clearly, 25 years on.
“It was a ‘real’ grass court, true, fast. It had been a little hot [weather] period, we were playing at Roehampton. I was still playing really good tennis, obviously… [and] Ortegren had had a couple of really good wins,” Woodbridge recalled.
“Johan … wasn't really a grasscourter, he had a good run, he got there [to the final round], so it was not a bad draw for me, but he had the wrong shoes. He had regular shoes; he didn't have the grasscourt [shoes] with the dimples to kind of get the extra grip.
“The courts had got kind of burnt out, slippery and dry, and I could get him quickly into a piece [of the court], and he just kept sliding like a clay court and had no way to get back.
“He lost all confidence, all grip on the court, and I was ruthless.”
Woodbridge went on to beat fellow Australian qualifier Scott Draper in the first round of the main draw, before exiting in four sets to Raemon Sluiter.
Wimbledon 2001 was the final Grand Slam singles main draw of his career.
“I played pretty flawless, obviously, to be able to maintain that for that long,” Woodbridge said of his triple bagel.
“I think it was later in that year, I go to Stockholm to play the indoor tournament and I go to practise with [Ortegren]. So we play a set, and I go up 4-0 (laughter).
“He eventually wins a game, and there were people standing watching who all roared for him when he finally got a game, because everybody knew the story.
“And he takes it beautifully, actually.”
Woodbridge also clearly remembers beating Sampras in 1989 – his first main-draw win at a Grand Slam tournament outside of Australia.
"We played on Court 9. Tony Pickard, who was Stefan Edberg's coach – Stefan was the waiting opponent – was out watching and it was kind of like we [Sampras and I] were the next era coming along. He [Sampras] hadn't done anything at that point yet, but when I say he hadn't won a major, he was [nevertheless] good. So it was a tough draw,” Woodbridge explained.
“I go out, play just solid grasscourt tennis and get a win, and then have to play Stefan Edberg on the Centre Court in my next round. Get a set. So I'm among good contenders at that point. But Sampras went and won the US Open [in 1990] ... his trajectory just went [straight up] and mine kind of [plateaued].
“But it's still pretty special to have had at least one win against him there... I will always have that. I wonder if he remembers?"
Listen to the full episode of The Sit-Down, a weekly podcast released each Monday featuring an in-depth interview with a notable tennis identity. Subscribe in your favourite podcast player so you never miss an episode.