Graf sets sight on 8th Wimbledon title

Graf labelled her triumph on the red clay her greatest-ever Grand Slam win, and that coming from someone who had 21 others with which to compare it.

The pressure is off: Novatna

For once, the pressure will be off Jana Novotna when she embarks on her Wimbledon campaign. The reigning singles champion generally spends the fortnight at her favourite tennis tournament going through an emotional mincer 8212; and usually wringing the tearsfrom her eyes at the end.But everything changed last year this time the tears were of joy not sorrow 8212; when she finally banished her reputation as a choker on the biggest stage.

Last year8217;s straight sets win over Frenchwoman Nathalie Tauziat exorcised the ghosts of 1993, when she threw away a third-set lead in the final to lose to Steffi Graf, and 1997, when she lost in the final again, this time to Martina Hingis.

Hingis to put tears behind

Two battles, different in nature but equally difficult, await temperamental teen queen Martina Hingis as she prepares to open her Wimbledon campaign. One is to win her sixth Grand Slam and her second on the lush London grass. As world number one, the 18-year-old Swiss arrives as the favourite but her hopes will be improved if she can first win the other battle: to reclaim the hearts and minds of tennis fans who regard her as a bad loser after her tantrums at the French Open.

Hewitt ready to make waves

Second seed Pat Rafter and number seven MarkPhilippoussis are the men Australia expects to serve up success at Wimbledon over the next fortnight.The land of Oz has been without a men8217;s singles finalist, let alone a winner, at the All England Club since Pat Cash beat Ivan Lendl in 1987 8212; a poor return when one considers the enduring strength in depth Down Under.Aside from their top two, this year8217;s crop includes grass specialists Scott Draper and Jason Soltenberg 8212; who will provide tough first round tests for reigning champion Pete Sampras and Briton Greg Rusedski respectively 8211; as well as a certain teenager by the name of Lleyton Hewitt.Lleyton Hewitt 8211; the name is worth repeating 8211; is the latest Aussie to gatecrash the world scene, and how.

Yet Hewitt showed at Queen8217;s, where he reached the semi-finals and took a set off Sampras before losing by a whisker, that he is deadly serious about his game.

Pressure is off history-maker Agassi

Andre Agassi has a big advantage over fellow would-be title-winners as he prepares for Wimbledon thepressure is off the American after he wrote a new chapter of tennis history by winning the French Open.

8220;You always remember your first Grand Slam win. It was very emotional, very tough,8221; the now shaven-headed Agassi remembers.

The Las Vegas showman arrived at Roland Garros with a shoulder injury which nearly kept him out of the tournament.

Defending champions

Men8217;s singles: Pete Sampras US

Women8217;s singles: Jana Novotna Czech Republic

Men8217;s doubles: Jacco Eltingh/Paul Haarhuis Netherlands

Women8217;s doubles: Martina Hingis Switzerland/Jana Novotna

Mixed doubles: Max Mirnyi Belarus/Serena Williams US.

Prize money: Total has risen 5.4 per cent this year to 7.6 million pounds 12.25 million. The men8217;s singles champion will receive 455,000 pounds and the women8217;s champion 409,500.

First round losers in the men8217;S Singles will receive 6,530 pounds and in the women8217;s 5,060 pounds. All players receive a daily allowance of 150 pounds.Facilities: Wimbledon has two show courtsCentre Court which holds 13,800 and Number One court 11,400. More than 720 seats have been added to Centre Court this year.

Courts 16 and 17 come back into use this year, giving a total of 20, but only 18 will be in use at any one time. Play in the first six days will begin at 1300 GMT 1730 IST on Centre and Number One courts and 1100 GMT 1530 IST on the other courts. There is no play on June 27, except if bad weather delays the programme during the first week.

Last year the championships attracted 424,000 people.

History: The oldest tournament in the sport and the only Grand Slam still played on a grass court, the fastest in tennis.

All England Croquet Club was founded in 1868 and tennis was added to its activities in 1875. The first tennis championship was held in 1877, men8217;s singles only.

Women8217;s singles and men8217;s doubles were introduced in 1884 and women8217;s doubles and mixed doubles in 1913.

First overseas champion was May Sutton of the United States who won the women8217;s singles in 1905.Norman Brookes of Australia won the men8217;s title in 1907.

Wimbledon moved to its present site in Church Road in 1922. Men8217;s and women8217;s Wimbledon champions over the past 20 years

Men8217;s: 1998 Pete Sampras US, 1997 Sampras, 1996 Richard Krajicek Netherlands, 1995 Sampras, 1994 Sampras, 1993 Sampras, 1992 Andre Agassi US, 1991 Michael Stich Germany, 1990 Stefan Edberg Sweden, 1989 Boris Becker Germany, 1988 Edberg, 1987 Pat Cash Australia, 1986 Becker, 1985 Becker, 1984 John McEnroe US, 1983 McEnroe, 1982 Jimmy Connors US, 1981 McEnroe, 1980 Bjorn Borg Sweden, 1979 Borg.

Women8217;s: 1998 Jana Novotna Czech Republic, 1997 Martina Hingis Switzerland, 1996 Steffi Graf Germany, 1995 Graf, 1994 Conchita Martinez Spain, 1993 Graf, 1992 Graf, 1991 Graf, 1990 Martina Navratilova US, 1989 Graf, 1988 Graf, 1987 Navratilova, 1986 Navratilova, 1985 Navratilova, 1984 Navratilova, 1983 Navratilova, 1982 Navratilova, 1981 Chris Evert Lloyd US, 1980 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Australia, 1979Navratilova.

Star Sports to telecast

Star Sports will telecast live the Wimbledon tennis championships from the first round till quarterfinal stage. The semifinals and finals will have deffered telecast, an ESPN-Star Sports release said.

Schedule: live telecast starts at 5.30 p.m. IST June 21-25 first to third rounds; June 26 third/round of 16 at 6.30 p.m.; June 28 fourth round/round of 16 at 4.30 p.m.; June 29 women8217;s singles quarterfinals; June 30 men8217;s singles quarterfinals at 4.30 p.m.; July 1 women8217;s singles/doubles semifinals 9.30 p.m. deferred telecast; July 2 men8217;s singles semifinals 8.30 p.m. deferred telecast; July 3 women8217;s singles, men8217;s doubles and mixed doubles final 9.30 p.m. deferred telecast; July 4 men8217;s singles/ladies doubles final 9.30 p.m. deferred telecast.