1996 Wimbledon Championships

Events

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, Cliff Richard, who was watching from the royal box, was approached by court officials for an interview. They suggested that he sing a song or two to entertain the crowd. With approval from his PR manager Richard proceeded to give an impromptu performance, starting with "Summer Holiday".

The performance ran for twenty minutes and consisted of Richard's hits such as "Living Doll" and "Congratulations", as well as the Elvis Presley hit "All Shook Up". 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.

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. Since a retractable roof was completed on Centre Court in 2009 such a performance is unlikely to happen again.

During the entrance of the court staff for the Men's Singles final, the court was briefly invaded by a streaker.

Prize money

The total prize money for 1996 championships was £6,465,910. The winner of the men's title earned £392,500 while the women's singles champion earned £353,000.

• per team

Champions

Seniors

Men's singles

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

NED Richard Krajicek defeated USA 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

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles

GER Steffi Graf defeated ESP 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

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Men's doubles

AUS Todd Woodbridge / AUS Mark Woodforde defeated ZIM Byron Black / CAN 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

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles

SUI Martina Hingis / CZE Helena Suková defeated USA Meredith McGrath / LAT 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

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles

CZE Cyril Suk / CZE Helena Suková defeated AUS Mark Woodforde / LAT Larisa Neiland, 1–6, 6–3, 6–2

• It was Suk's 3rd career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and his 2nd title at Wimbledon. It was Suková's 4th career Grand Slam mixed doubles title and her 2nd title at Wimbledon.

Juniors

Boys' singles

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Boys' singles

BLR Vladimir Voltchkov defeated CRO Ivan Ljubičić, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3

Girls' singles

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Girls' singles

FRA Amélie Mauresmo defeated ESP Magüi Serna, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4

Boys' doubles

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Boys' doubles

ITA Daniele Bracciali / CAN Jocelyn Robichaud defeated RSA Damien Roberts / RSA Wesley Whitehouse, 6–2, 6–4

Girls' doubles

Main article: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Girls' doubles

BLR Olga Barabanschikova / FRA Amélie Mauresmo defeated USA Lilia Osterloh / USA Samantha Reeves, 5–7, 6–3, 6–1

Invitation

Gentlemen's invitation doubles

POL Wojciech Fibak / USA Tim Wilkison defeated CZE Pavel Složil / CZE Tomáš Šmíd, 6–2, 5–7, 6–1

Ladies' invitation doubles

GBR Jo Durie / USA Anne Smith defeated SLO Mima Jaušovec / RSA Yvonne Vermaak, 6–3, 6–2

Senior gentlemen's invitation doubles

AUS John Alexander / AUS Phil Dent defeated USA Marty Riessen / USA Sherwood Stewart, 7–6, 6–2

Singles seeds

Men's singles

1. USA Pete Sampras (quarterfinals, lost to Richard Krajicek)
2. GER Boris Becker (third round, lost to Neville Godwin)
3. USA Andre Agassi (first round, lost to Doug Flach)
4. CRO Goran Ivanišević (quarterfinals, lost to Jason Stoltenberg)
5. RUS Yevgeny Kafelnikov (first round, lost to Tim Henman)
6. USA Michael Chang (first round, lost to Albert Costa)
7. AUT Thomas Muster (withdrew before the tournament began)
8. USA Jim Courier (first round, lost to Jonathan Stark)
9. SWE Thomas Enqvist (second round, lost to MaliVai Washington)
10. GER Michael Stich (fourth round, lost to Richard Krajicek)
11. RSA Wayne Ferreira (third round, lost to Magnus Gustafsson)
12. SWE Stefan Edberg (second round, lost to Mikael Tillström)
13. USA Todd Martin (semifinals, lost to MaliVai Washington)
14. SUI Marc Rosset (third round, lost to Pat Rafter)
15. FRA Arnaud Boetsch (first round, lost to Alex Rădulescu)
16. FRA Cédric Pioline (fourth round, lost to Pete Sampras)
17. NED Richard Krajicek (champion)

Women's singles

1. GER Steffi Graf (champion)
2. USA Monica Seles (second round, lost to Katarína Studeníková)
3. ESP Conchita Martínez (quarterfinals, lost to Kimiko Date)
4. ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (final, lost to Steffi Graf)
5. GER Anke Huber (third round, lost to Ai Sugiyama)
6. CZE Jana Novotná (quarterfinals, lost to Steffi Graf)
7. USA Chanda Rubin (withdrew before the tournament began)
8. USA Lindsay Davenport (second round, lost to Larisa Neiland)
9. USA Mary Joe Fernández (quarterfinals, lost to Meredith McGrath)
10. BUL Magdalena Maleeva (second round, lost to Nathalie Tauziat)
11. NED Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (third round, lost to Sabine Appelmans)
12. JPN Kimiko Date (semifinals, lost to Steffi Graf)
13. FRA Mary Pierce (quarterfinals, lost to Kimiko Date)
14. RSA Amanda Coetzer (second round, lost to Meredith McGrath)
15. ROM Irina Spîrlea (second round, lost to Inés Gorrochategui)
16. SUI Martina Hingis (fourth round, lost to Steffi Graf)
17. SVK Karina Habšudová (first round, lost to Judith Wiesner)

References

References

1. Collins, Bud. (2010). "The Bud Collins History of Tennis". New Chapter Press.
2. Barrett, John. (2001). "Wimbledon : The Official History of the Championships". CollinsWillow.
3. (18 July 2004). "Sir Cliff's Wimbledon singalong was all a PR stunt". [[The Scotsman]].
4. "True Or False".
5. "3 July 1996: Cliff Richard sings at Wimbledon". [[The Guardian]].
6. (22 April 2009). "Centre Court at Wimbledon has it covered after years of rain". [[The Guardian]].
7. (19 June 2009). "The magic of Wimbledon". [[The Guardian]].
8. Little, Alan. (2013). "Wimbledon Compendium 2013". All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.
9. "About Wimbledon – Prize Money and Finance". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
10. "Gentlemen's Singles Finals 1877–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
11. "Ladies' Singles Finals 1884–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
12. "Gentlemen's Doubles Finals 1884–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
13. "Ladies' Doubles Finals 1913–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
14. "Mixed Doubles Finals 1913–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
15. "Boys' Singles Finals 1947–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
16. "Girls' Singles Finals 1947–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
17. "Boys' Doubles Finals 1982–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.
18. "Girls' Doubles Finals 1982–2017". [[The Championships, Wimbledon.