HE COULD have polished it off in two games. But Tim Henman won the hard way, taking two nail-biting hours yesterday to defeat the American Jim Courier and secure a place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals. The British number one kept his nerve to save three match points in the fifth set and went on to take the match, receiving a standing ovation.

Wimbledon 99: Flurry of aces leaves Parmar pinned to the ropes as strong-arm tactics pay off

ANDRE AGASSI arrived at Wimbledon this week still aglow from his historic triumph in the French Open, a victory that elevated him to membership of the very small group of men who have won all four Grand Slam singles titles. Only Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson had done it before him, and not one of them won the four titles on three different surfaces, as Agassi has.

1The cost, in shillings (5p) for spectators to watch the final of the first Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in 1877, an amateur competition involving 22 players. The only event was the Gentlemen's singles, won by Spencer Gore, an Old Harrovian rackets player. Centre Court tickets for this year's final cost pounds 60 for those lucky enough to succeed in the ballot. London agents were selling them for pounds 1,600 a pair last week.

`I think I am much more mature. I want to return to a Grand Slam final. I want to be able to say I won one'

Britain's last Wimbledon men's singles finalist is now 92 years old but he believes that he may soon lose that qualification. By Richard Eaton

Duel for the Crown

Ronald Atkin suggests today's men's final will be a passionate one

OF ALL the possibilities at the French Open, which starts here today, the notion that Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski will advance to meet in the men's singles semi-finals - let alone that Henman will go on to win the title and become the world No1 - appears to be among the easiest to discount, probably in the Britons' own minds as well as those of their peers.

GREG RUSEDSKI will have to overcome the gifted South African Wayne Ferreira in the opening round if he is to make progress in the United States Open, which starts on Monday.

Court circular

The first Grand Slam: In 1938 the American Donald Budge dominated the tennis world in unprecedented fashion

Follow the Wimbledon stars - tennis chic can really improve your swing. By Tamsin Blanchard

John Roberts explains why many of the world's greatest attacking players have failed to succeed on the clay courts of Roland Garros