INDEPENDENCE Day was marked by Pete Sampras, a 21-year-old Californian, yesterday becoming the 21st American to be crowned men's singles champion at Wimbledon, writes John Roberts.

JUST TO make Pete Sampras feel even more alone on Centre Court this afternoon, it is now a fact of official record that Andre Agassi is the most popular sporting star among British fans. More loved by women, the kids and some of the men than even Frank Bruno, Nigel Mansell, Linford Christie or Will Carling. Gazza eat your heart out.

THE LAST great British Davis Cup team was introduced to the Centre Court yesterday, but the next great British victory was not forthcoming. Although Chris Wilkinson, the man who has spearheaded the renaissance in domestic men's tennis during the last month, cracked Stefan Edberg's composure yesterday, he could not defeat the man.

THE body language of home players at Wimbledon used to say it all. 'I'm British, so beat me,' the hanging heads, the drooped shoulders and the rigid-with-nerves arms would announce as strokes were aimed away from the lines into the comfort zones of mid-court and were promptly returned for winners. The impetus seemed to be a search for defeat without humiliation.

THE atmosphere was more electric than a month of middle Sundays. The Fred Perry statue gave a quiver, and Fred himself nodded in approval. Alas, Chris Bailey could not quite deliver the British victory that would have made the day complete.

WHY can't Americans say this word: Wimbledon?

THE only shock at the French Open here yesterday was when a pysiotherapist arrived on the Centre Court to treat Stefan Edberg. The application of spray to the player's groin worked wonders, relieving us of one of those Edberg jinx stories.

THE All England Club announced yesterday that it is ready to dress up for the 21st century. A new No 1 Court is planned as the first phase of a pounds 100m-plus redevelopment programme designed to preserve Wimbledon's status as the world's most prestigious tennis tournament.

Sir: I am sorry to hear that Britain's No 1 tennis player, Jeremy Bates, was rudely knocked out of the first round of the Qatar Open by an unknown Russian 18-year-old, 6-3, 6-3 then suffered another first-round loss in Melbourne this week. Before Qatar, he complained that he had no competition for the previous nine weeks. This is indeed a sad state of affairs. Is there no one in Britain who can give Jeremy even a decent knock-up? What would Dan Maskell or Fred Perry (or Kitty Godfree) say about that? Not long ago, any one of them would have given young Bates a run for his money, and taught him a few things, eg not to make excuses.

DAN MASKELL, who died yesterday, aged 84, did not lend his voice to Wimbledon this year. So Wimbledon, in the form of the Centre Court spectators, expressed the sentiments of the nation to Dan when the retired BBC commentator stepped into the royal box for a presentation on the opening day of the championships.

NICK Bollettieri's critics maintain he produces only one type of player: a huge forehand, a respectable serve and a non-existent volley. And wouldn't Britain be delighted to have just one player so limited?