Melissa Johnson ran onto Centre Court during the Wimbledon men’s final, with defeated finalist MaliVai Washington later joking that the incident left him ‘flustered’ and cost him the match
The refined and dignified atmosphere of Wimbledon is typically associated with strawberries and cream rather than alcohol and snacks.
Nevertheless, that didn’t prevent tennis’ most prestigious tournament from being subjected – quite literally – to streaking incidents. In 1996, blonde bombshell Melissa Johnson, who earned her living as a waitress, provided Centre Court with quite the spectacle as she stripped off during the gentlemen’s final between Richard Krajicek and MaliVai Washington.
The sight proved too distracting for American player Washington who, after witnessing Melissa cavorting about wearing only her waitress apron, fell to his Dutch opponent, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3. He subsequently quipped: “I saw these things wobbling around and, jeez, she smiled at me. I got flustered and three sets later I was gone.”
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Melissa, who was employed at a Wimbledon pizza stall, had technically observed the all-white dress regulations. Yet she sent spectators into fits of laughter with her antics – even the Duke and Duchess of Kent looked on in astonishment.
Johnson later confessed: “I’m a naughty girl – and I’ve got a wild streak in me. I just said to the people I was working with, ‘I’m going to do it, I am going to get my kit off’.”
She added: “But my employers were very po-faced. They demanded my pinny back immediately. I suppose that means I have got the sack.
“It was my suggestion entirely. I did it for a bit of a laugh, although I was encouraged by all the others. I am a bit of a naughty girl and I definitely have a wild streak in me. I knew it had never been done before – and it had to be done, really, didn’t it?
“When the players came out I thought, ‘It’s now or never’, so I just did it. I didn’t feel embarrassed. I was going to wear a dress but decided to wear my pinny instead.”
Krajicek was initially unseeded, but stepped in for seventh seed Thomas Muster in the draw when Muster pulled out of the tournament. It was his first and only major singles title.
Melissa made a bit of history that day in 1996 – no one had ever attempted anything as daring and x-rated in Wimbledon’s lengthy history. Luckily, the blonde beauty didn’t face any additional legal repercussions for her actions.
However, she did lose her job.