2/2/2024 0 Comments Wimbledon streaker 1996![]() When tennis ditched its amateur status, the sport came back together, and Australian great Rod Laver picked up where he left off by lifting the trophy again. Many of the top players did not play at the grand slams for most of the 1960s after turning professional. Rod Laver marks his return to Wimbledon with the trophy (PA) Security is tight on Centre Court but 23-year-old Melissa Johnson evaded it in 1996 ahead of the men’s singles final between Richard Krajicek and MaliVai Washington, streaking across the turf wearing just a small apron. Melissa Johnson ran across Centre Court (Adam Butler/PA) The match is most famous for the fourth-set tie-break, which McEnroe won 18-16, saving seven match points. One of the most memorable finals took place 42 years ago, when Bjorn Borg defeated John McEnroe in five sets to win a fifth straight title. Tie-break dramaījorn Borg won his fifth successive title in 1980 (PA) What more British way to put up with a rain break at Wimbledon than a singalong led by tennis fan Sir Cliff Richard? That is exactly what happened in 1996, with tennis stars including Wade as backing singers. Sir Cliff Richard leads a Centre Court singalong (Adam Butler/PA) Bad weather pushed the clash between crowd favourites Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter back to the Monday and a raucous crowd saw Ivanisevic win a five-set thriller to clinch his first Grand Slam in his fourth Wimbledon final. Wimbledon had never seen anything quite like the 2001 men’s final. The Queen has made only sporadic visits to Wimbledon but in 1977 she marked her Silver Jubilee by presenting the trophy to a British champion after Virginia Wade defeated Betty Stove to win the women’s singles title. The Queen presents Virginia Wade with the trophy (PA) After losing in successive finals to his great rival, Nadal came out on top 9-7 in the fifth set with darkness descending. The 2008 final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is widely regarded as the best tennis match in history. With his strawberry blond locks and fresh-faced exuberance, 17-year-old Boris Becker’s triumph in 1985 is one of Wimbledon’s most famous moments. Teenage kicksīoris Becker lifted the trophy in 1985 (PA) Fittingly, it was the Duchess who presented the trophy when Novotna, who died of cancer five years ago, finally claimed the title in 1998. Jana Novotna famously cried on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder after surrendering a lead against Steffi Graf in the final in 1993. The Duchess of Kent consoles Jana Novotna (Neil Munns/PA) Seventy seven years after Fred Perry won his third Wimbledon singles title, Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in dramatic and emotional fashion in the 2013 final to end the long wait for a home men’s singles champion. Andy Murray brings it homeĪndy Murray celebrates his landmark first Wimbledon title in 2013 (Adam Davy/PA) Here are 12 of its most memorable occasions. The famous stadium, which gained a retractable roof in 2009, has been the stage for some of the greatest and most dramatic moments in sport. This summer’s Wimbledon marks the 100th anniversary of Centre Court.
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