1996 Wimbledon Championships
| 1996 Wimbledon Championships | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 June - 7 July |
| Edition | 110th |
| Category | Grand Slam (ITF) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Location |
Church Road SW19, Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom |
| Champions | |
| Men's Singles | |
 Richard Krajicek | |
| Women's Singles | |
 Steffi Graf | |
| Men's Doubles | |
 Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde | |
| Women's Doubles | |
 Martina Hingis /  Helena Suková | |
| Mixed Doubles | |
|
Helena Suková / Cyril Suk | |
| Boys' Singles | |
 Vladimir Voltchkov | |
| Girls' Singles | |
 Amélie Mauresmo | |
| Boys' Doubles | |
 Daniele Bracciali /  Jocelyn Robichaud | |
| Girls' Doubles | |
|
Olga Barabanschikova / Amélie Mauresmo | |
| Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles | |
 Wojciech Fibak /  Tim Wilkison | |
| Ladies' Invitation Doubles | |
 Jo Durie / Anne Smith | |
| Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles | |
|
John Alexander / Sherwood Stewart | |
The 1996 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England. It was the 110th edition of the Wimbledon Championships and was held from 24 June to 8 July 1996.
Notable stories
Cliff Richard's impromptu concert
That year was best remembered for an impromptu performance staged by Cliff Richard, who was watching from the royal box.[1]
When rain interrupted play on Centre Court on 3 July with a crowd that included Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent and actress Joanna Lumley,[2] Richard was approached by court officials for an interview. They suggested that he sing a song or two to entertain the crowd.[3] With approval from his PR manager Cliff proceeded to start the performance, starting with Singin' in the Rain.
The performance ran for twenty minutes and consisted of Richard's classic hits such as Living Doll and Congratulations, as well as the Elvis Presley hit "All Shook Up".[1] Past tennis stars Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova, Hana Mandlíková, Pam Shriver, Liz Smylie, Gigi Fernández and Conchita Martínez were in the Royal Box and proceeded to join in as background singers.[1][2]
Richard was not aware that his performance was televised by the BBC, and after six songs presenter Des Lynam jokingly claimed "we'll probably get one hell of a bill." The performance made the front pages in many major British newspapers on the following day.
That 1996 Wimbledon will also be remembered for a prior performance during the entrance of the court staff for the Men's Singles Final which included 23 year old Melissa Johnson, who was nearly nude. Johnson had been working at a Wimbledon pizza stand, so she kept the white server's apron, which she lifted during her proper curtsey to the Royal Box, thus proudly exposing her in all her glory. The Duke of Kent laughed as did Krajicek and Washington & crowd. Johnson bowed and ran into the arms of a policeman, thus ending her few minutes of fame.
Since a retractable roof was completed on Centre Court in 2009 such a performance is unlikely to happen again.[4]
Seniors
Men's singles
Richard Krajicek defeated MaliVai Washington, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
- • It was Krajicek's 1st and only career Grand Slam singles title. He became the first Dutchman to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first Dutch singles winner since Kea Bouman in 1926.
Women's singles
Steffi Graf defeated 
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 6–3, 7–5
- • It was Graf's 20th career Grand Slam singles title and her 7th and last title at Wimbledon.
Men's doubles
Todd Woodbridge / Mark Woodforde defeated 
Byron Black / Grant Connell, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
- It was Woodbridge's 10th career Grand Slam title and his 5th Wimbledon title. It was Woodforde's 11th career Grand Slam title and his 4th Wimbledon title.
Women's doubles
Martina Hingis / Helena Suková defeated Meredith McGrath / 
Larisa Neiland, 5–7, 7–5, 6–1
- • It was Hingis' 1st career Grand Slam doubles title.
- • It was Suková's 9th and last career Grand Slam doubles title and her 4th title at Wimbledon.
Mixed doubles
Helena Suková / Cyril Suk defeated Larisa Neiland / Mark Woodforde, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2
- • It was Suková's 4th career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and her 2nd title at Wimbledon.
- • It was Suk's 3rd career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and his 2nd title at Wimbledon.
Juniors
Boys' Singles
Vladimir Voltchkov defeated 
Ivan Ljubičić 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Girls' Singles
Amélie Mauresmo[lower-alpha 1] defeated Magüi Serna 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Boys' Doubles
Daniele Bracciali / Jocelyn Robichaud defeated 
Damien Roberts / Wesley Whitehouse 6–2, 6–4
Girls' Doubles
Olga Barabanschikova / Amélie Mauresmo[lower-alpha 1] defeated Lilia Osterloh / Samantha Reeves 5–7, 6–3, 6–1
Other events
Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
Wojciech Fibak / Tim Wilkison defeated Pavel Složil / Tomáš Šmíd 6–2, 5–7, 6–1
Ladies' Invitation Doubles
Jo Durie / Anne Smith defeated 
Mima Jaušovec / Yvonne Vermaak 6–3, 6–2
Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
John Alexander / Phil Dent defeated Marty Riessen / Sherwood Stewart 7–6, 6–2
Notes
References
- 1 2 3 http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gmg/op/view.m?id=107752&tid=34&cat=tennis
- 1 2 http://sport.scotsman.com/wimbledon2004/Sir-Cliffs-Wimbledon-singalong-was.2546752.jp
- ↑ http://www.cliffrichard.org/news/index.cfm?page_id=4
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172429/The-3-000-ton-Wimbledon-roof-keeps-dry-AND-stops-Sir-Cliff-singing.html
External links
| Preceded by 1996 French Open |
Grand Slams | Succeeded by 1996 U.S. Open |