#WIMBLEDON STREAKER PROFESSIONAL#

In 1969, 41-year-old Pancho Gonzales was very insistent on playing at Wimbledon after rules prior to the open era had frustratingly prevented him from participating in the tournament. One of the players at the time, MaliVai Washington, looking back about his reaction upon seeing Johnson streaking across the court saying: “I saw these things wobbling around and, jeez, she smiled at me.” And three sets later he was packing his bags to go home, certainly makes a change from the usual excuses… Fighting Ageism In 1996, a 23-year-old streaker Melissa Johnson decided to run onto the Wimbledon centre court wearing only a small pinafore. John McEnroe famous tantrum | photo: Daily Mail She Smiled at Me In 1981, John McEnroe played against Tom Gullikson, but after one shot appeared to hit the line but was ruled out, known for his headbands and racquet-smashing tantrums, McEnroe unleashed the most famous line in the entire tournament before and to now, furiously yelling at the umpire: “You cannot be serious!” Since Hawk-eye wasn't in existence then. Although he did go on to lose the match but at least the spectators got a giggle out of it. So during, a match against Dick Stockton, Nastase played a fair amount of the game with one hand while the other was holding an umbrella. In 1974, Nastase seemed to be cursed by the dreaded rain, consequently suffered to find any sort of momentum on the court through numerous delays. Ilie Nastase was famous for marching to his own drumbeat, it really showed by his refusal to join the 1973 players boycott at the All England Club. A total of 79 players withdrew, 13 of which were original seeds.

#WIMBLEDON STREAKER PROFESSIONAL#

This came about after the International Lawn Tennis Federation refused to allow world No.1 Niki Pilic, from playing at Wimbledon after he chooses to participate in the Canadian professional doubles competition rather than attending the Davis Cup earlier that year. Industrial Strikeĭisputes in 1973 saw the majority of the men withdraw from the tournament.

With this year’s Wimbledon tournament kicking off tomorrow at London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Vavel looks back at 10 of the most shocking and stunning moments in the history of the prestigious Grand Slam. Hours away before the competition offically starts | photo: The Telegraph

Wimbledon streaker