PETE SAMPRAS. Andre Agassi. Andre Agassi. Pete Sampras.

THREE-TIME former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert has backed the move to eradicate grunting from tennis, accusing modern-day players of cynically using the tactic at strategic moments in points.

Three-time former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert has backed the move to eradicate grunting from tennis, accusing modern-day players of cynically using the tactic at strategic moments in points.

ROGER FEDERER last night looked back on his historic title success at the French Open and declared: “It was meant to be.”

PORTUGUESE 16-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito grunted her way into the limelight at the French Open on a day Venus Williams made her now customary early exit from Roland Garros.

BILL CLINTON’S saxophone and Robert Pattinson’s lips have helped a star-studded charity event raise money to fight AIDS.

STARS generally welcome the worship of adoring fans, but it can tip over into dangerous infatuation.

Priscilla Presley, figure skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi and comedian Adam Carolla are catching dance fever.

Monica Seles has announced her official retirement from professional tennis.

AN hour after clutching her fourth French Open trophy, Justine Henin cradled other precious cargo in her arms — her six-week-old niece.

Hollywood star Sharon Stoneraised $7m (€5.2m) for Aids research at a star-studded party at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night.

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor yesterday called on clubs and police to remain extra vigilant following the ugly scenes which marred the end of Chelsea’s FA Cup win at Spurs.

Justine Henin-Hardenne has joined a select band of women who have played in all four grand slam finals in the same season.

Martina Hingis rates herself as a “good outsider” to win Wimbledon as she continues her comeback.

RAFAEL NADAL of Spain successfully defended his men’s title at the French Open yesterday beating world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) after three hours on the Philippe Chatrier court.

It was left to 48-year-old Martina Navratilova to inject a much needed hint of controversy on an otherwise predictable fifth day of the Australian Open.

Russian teenage sensation Maria Sharapova has all the ingredients to become a Wimbledon champion, according to coaching guru Nick Bollettieri.

Martina Navratilova has not ruled out the possibility of returning to play in the singles at Wimbledon this year.

TOP seeds Serena Williams and Lleyton Hewitt were given a savaging

Monica Seles outplayed Chanda Rubin to win the Hong Kong Ladies Challenge tennis tournament.

The USA have taken the inaugural Collins Cup at the RDS.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA flew out of Dublin at 5am yesterday but that didn’t mean there weren’t many other attractions awaiting the fans at the Trilogy Challenge in the RDS.

THOSE of us who rarely, if ever, have the chance of watching the world’s top players in action delighted in last night’s action at the Trilogy Tennis Challenge at the RDS.

Top international women tennis stars were today preparing to compete in a three-day charity tournament in Dublin.

It is day one of the Collins Cup at the RDS.

THE difficulties between the organisers of next week’s multi-million euro Trilogy fashion, music and tennis festival and the charity set to benefit from the event, The Chernobyl Children’s Project, have been settled.

Hopes of an all-Williams decider disappeared when Venus retired with a leg injury after just five games of her WTA Championship semi-final against Kim Clijsters.

Kim Clijsters cruised into the semi-finals of the WTA Championships with a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory over Justine Henin.

PHOTOGRAPHERS at the ready, loaded lads be prepared — Anna Kournikova will be coming to Dublin in early December for a Ryder Cup-type event between the cream of the female tennis world.

Venus Williams underscored her US Open intentions with a convincing win, while compatriot Jennifer Capriati again had her dreams shattered in her home Grand Slam.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI became the first of the big four Americans to fall at the US Open when she lost to Amelie Mauresmo on Wednesday.

The dominance of Venus and Serena Williams on women’s tennis was further enhanced as both won their matches at the US Open last night, albeit in contrasting styles.

The Williams sisters are in quarter-final action at the US Open today.

Martina Hingis will meet Monica Seles in the fourth round of the US Open, after the Swiss star beat Amanda Coetzer 6-3 6-4.

US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York

While others at the US Open had just another day at the office, Marat Safin was forced to put in some overtime.

Justine Henin finally got the better of Monica Seles at the fifth time of asking to book her place in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Reigning champion Venus Williams remains on course for a record-breaking hat-trick of Wimbledon titles after cruising through her quarter-final against unseeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva.

All England Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon - Order of Play for Monday, June 1

Nine-times Grand Slam champion Monica Seles remains on course for a first-ever Wimbledon crown but was taken all the way by unseeded Ai Sugiyama in a fiercely-contested third-round tie.

Fourth seed Monica Seles, of America, has beaten Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 4-6 6-1 6-4 in the women’s third round match at Wimbledon.

The seedings for the 2002 Wimbledon Championships have been announced by the All-England Club in London.

Second seed Venus Williams stamped hard on the accelerator again today as she careered to another straight sets victory at the French Open, this time over sixth seed Monica Seles.

Three-time champion Monica Seles became the first woman to reach the French Open quarter-finals today at Roland Garros as she disposed of Daniela Hantuchova.