AN investigation was under way yesterday to find out how a 23-year-old woman was able to streak across the Centre Court at Wimbledon during the men's final.
Stewards were reviewing security arrangements and a report will almost certainly be presented to Mr Chris Gorringe, chief executive of the All England Club, a Wimbledon spokesman said.
The spokesman said officials had taken a light-hearted view of Ms Melissa Johnson's exhibition yesterday.
But they were concerned that a spectator was able to get past stewards on to the showpiece court, especially in the light of the knife attack on Monica Seles in Germany three years ago.
``I don't think what happened has damaged Wimbledon's reputation. We took a relatively light-hearted view of it,'' the spokesman said.
``But it is of concern that any spectator was allowed to get on to court, and that is certainly something that will be looked at as part of the on-going review of security.''
He said stewards would already have held an inquest into the incident and any decision on strengthening security arrangements would be down to Mr Gorringe.
But he would not say whether any extra security arrangements would be in place for the remaining play at Wimbledon today.
The Wimbledon spokesman said Miss Johnson, who dashed in front of the crowd wearing nothing but a pinafore around her waist and a plaster on her left heel as Richard Krajicek and Mal Washington prepared to warm up, worked as a waitress at Wimbledon for catering firm Town & County.
No-one was available for comment at the London-based firm yesterday. Miss Johnson paused to lift the pinafore in front of a packed royal box. The Duke of Kent rocked with laughter.
Police arrested Miss Johnson and took her to Wimbledon police station, where she was held until the end of play, then released. A spokesman said no further action would be taken.
Comedian Jack Dee, a neighbour of the Johnson family in south London, said of Miss Johnson: ``I thought my antics were quite daring, but I think she really takes the biscuit.''
He added as he left his Wandsworth home: ``I play tennis every Wednesday at Wandsworth Common, so if she wants to make an appearance there she would be quite welcome.''
The Johnson family have not spoken to the reporters and photographers stationed outside their house since yesterday morning.
A spokesman for Town & County said Miss Johnson was employed as a temporary waitress at Wimbledon.
She was due to finish her contract on Sunday and there was therefore no question of her being sacked or punished.
The Town & County spokesman said he could not comment on reports that Miss Johnson lost a #60 bonus as a result of her antics.
q.Bookmaker William Hill paid out #2000 to punters who predicted the first Wimbledon streaker and slashed the odds about a 1997 repeat from 6-1 to even money.
``Once it has happened once you can almost guarantee a copycat repeat,'' said spokesman Graham Sharpe.
``However, we are offering 100-1 about Cliff Richard streaking on the Centre Court while singing The Young Ones next year.''
Hills launched a number of Wimbledon weather bets for 1997, offering 3-1 that the tournament again went into a third week, 20-1 that it rained every day there, and 10-1 that it stayed completely dry.
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