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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
Netherlands Richard Krajicek
Women's Singles
Germany Steffi Graf
Men's Doubles
Australia Todd Woodbridge / Australia Mark Woodforde
Women's Doubles
Switzerland Martina Hingis / Czech Republic Helena Suková
Mixed Doubles
Czech Republic Helena Suková / Czech Republic Cyril Suk
Boys' Singles
Belarus Vladimir Voltchkov
Girls' Singles
France Amélie Mauresmo
Boys' Doubles
Italy Daniele Bracciali / Canada Jocelyn Robichaud
Girls' Doubles
Belarus Olga Barabanschikova / France Amélie Mauresmo
Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
Poland Wojciech Fibak / United States Tim Wilkison
Ladies' Invitation Doubles
United Kingdom Jo Durie / United States Anne Smith
Senior Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles
Australia John Alexander / United States Sherwood Stewart
← 1995 · Wimbledon Championships · 1997 →

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 7 July 1996.

That year was best remembered for an impromptu performance staged by Cliff Richard, who was watching from the royal box.

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, Richard 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 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". 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.


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