[1][2] It was the 115th edition of the Wimbledon Championships, part of the 2001 ATP and WTA Tours, and it was the third Grand Slam tennis event of the year.

[4] Pete Sampras was unsuccessful in his defence of the men's singles title, losing in the fourth round to 19-year-old Roger Federer, who was then relatively unknown.

Ivanišević had previously been runner-up three times (1992, 1994 and 1998), but had fallen to number 125 in the world by 2001 and had only entered the 2001 tournament after being granted a wild card.

Venus Williams successfully defended the women's singles title, beating 19-year-old Justine Henin in the final in three sets.

It was originally scheduled to end on 8 July 2001, but the semifinal match between Ivanišević and Tim Henman was played on three separate days due to rain, and that was extended to 9 July, causing the women's singles and women's doubles championships moved to Day 13.