WIMBLEDON 99: FACTS & FIGURES

PAST WINNERS

MEN

1998: Pete Sampras (US)

1997: Sampras

1996: Richard Krajicek (Neth)

1995: Sampras

1994: Sampras

1993: Sampras

1992: Andre Agassi (US)

1991: Michael Stich (Ger)

1990: Stefan Edberg (Swe)

WOMEN

1998: Jana Novotna (Cz Rep)

1997: Martina Hingis (Swit)

1996: Steffi Graf (Ger)

1995: Graf

1994: Conchita Martinez (Sp)

1993: Graf

1992: Graf

1991: Graf

1990: Martina Navratilova (US)

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

Men's Singles

P Sampras (US)

Women's Singles

J Novotna (Cz Rep)

Men's Doubles

J Eltingh and P Haarhuis (Neth)

Women's Doubles

M Hingis (Swit) and J Novotna (Cz Rep)

Mixed Doubles

M Mirnyi (Bela) and S Williams (US)

COURT REPORTS

PRIZE MONEY

Total: pounds 7.6m (5.4 per cent rise from 1998)

Men's singles champion pounds 455,000

Women's singles champion pounds 409,500

First-round losers in the men's singles will receive pounds 6,530 and in the women's pounds 5,060. All players receive a daily allowance of pounds 150.

TITLE CHASERS

The record number of Wimbledon titles is held by Billie-Jean King, who won a combination of 20 singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. Martina Navratilova won her 19th and last Wimbledon title (the mixed doubles) in 1995. Navratilova won the singles title a record nine times, and in the process becoming the first woman to secure six consecutive wins between 1982-87.

Pete Sampras has won 11 Grand Slam titles, including five at Wimbledon. Like Bjorn Borg (who won five Wimbledon singles titles and 11 Grand Slams) and Rod Laver (who won four Wimbledon singles titles and 11 Grand Slams), Sampras is one Grand Slam short of equalling Roy Emerson's record of 12.

CLASS OF 1999

MEN

The 128 players represent 39 countries, the United States leading the way with 12, and Great Britain and Australia next with 11 each.

There are 16 qualifiers (three British) and 6 wild cards (four British).

There are four former champions (Sampras, Krajicek, Agassi, Becker) and four losing finalists (Ivanisevic, Pioline, Courier, Becker).

The lowest-ranked British player is Tom Spinks, world No 595.

WOMEN

The 128 players represent 38 countries, the US leading the way with 22.

There are eight qualifiers (no British) and eight wild cards (seven British).

There are four former champions (Novotna, Hingis, Graf, Martinez) and four losing finalists (Tauziat, Novotna, Sanchez-Vicario, Seles).

The lowest-ranked Briton is Abigail Tordoff, world No 268.

FACILITIES

Wimbledon has two show courts - Centre Court (which holds 13,800) and No 1 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, completing a total of 20 courts, but only 18 will be in use at any one time.

SCHEDULE

Play during the first six days will begin at 1.0pm on Centre and No 1 courts and 11.0am on the other courts. There is no play on Sunday 27 June, except if bad weather delays the programme during the first week.

ATTENDANCE

Last year the championships attracted 424,000 people.