The Fourth of July, otherwise known as American Independence Day, has coincided with significant wins involving Americans at the Championships.
Top of the list must be John McEnroe's single victory over Bjorn Borg in 1981 as it effectively helped drive the five-time champion into retirement at the age of 26.
Twelve years later and it was the turn of 'Pistol' Pete Sampras to set the Stars and Stripes flying over the All England Club as he captured the first of his seven singles titles by beating countryman Jim Courier.
Back in Europe and the date is also the anniversary of Stefan Edberg's first Wimbledon triumph in 1988 when he beat German Boris Becker.
McEnroe's triumph was memorable but not untroubled. He was fined $750 on three occasions for arguing with officialdom and a further $10,000 after his final victory, later cut by half on appeal. He caused greater upset by boycotting the traditional Champions' Dinner and, as a result, was denied the honorary membership traditionally granted to the All England Club's champions.
McEnroe, who also won the doubles with Peter Fleming, did not face another seed until the final. He was in trouble only once when, in the third set of his 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(4), 6-4 win, Borg led 4-1 in the third set and squandered four set points at 5-4.
Sampras, helped in 1993 by Wimbledon's first rain-free tournament since 1977, overcame a sore serving shoulder to beat friend Courier 7-6(3), 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-3.
He confessed afterwards that when he dropped serve at the start of the third set against Courier "My head was hanging a bit and I started worrying about my arm".
Edberg's Independence Day win came against chief rival Becker, in a Wimbledon plagued by bad weather. Their final was delayed by rain until late on Sunday, and when it was resumed on the following day Becker took the first set only to be defeated 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-2.
And finally, another Fourth of July winner. The young Pam Shriver won the ladies' doubles in 1981 with Martina Navratilova on Shriver's 19th birthday.
