Tennis: Wimbledon bids to head off boycott

All England Club officials are fighting the risk of boycott from this season’s Wimbledon Championships - by opening negotiations with rebel players.

Last year’s tournament was dogged with controversy, with Spanish clay-court specialists Alex Corretja and Albert Costa pulling out over seedings which did not reflect world rankings.

Gustavo Kuerten has threatened to withdraw but tournament chairman Tim Phillips has moved to head off the row.

He said: ‘‘I have spoken with Alex Corretja about the situation and we are hoping to reach an agreement by the end of the French Open the following week we have to seed the Championships.

‘‘But I can confirm that we will not use a seeding committee for the men’s singles. We believe we can find a solution that answers most of the problems.

‘‘But there are reasons for our system. Pat Rafter was last year ranked 23rd in the world, but we seeded him and probably the best match of the tournament was in the semi-final, when he played Andre Agassi.

‘‘The problem is to try and balance the wishes of the players with the demands of the public.’’

The committee system will remain for the men’s doubles seedings, but be scrapped for the singles games.

But Phillips’ balancing act does not end there. More controversy surrounded the tournament earnings split between men and women with Jim Courier and Tim Henman entering a row over the disparity.

The Championships have declared a percentage increase in the women’s prize pot that outstrips the men’s, but Phillips defended the earnings contrast.

He said: ‘‘We work off the market situation. This is nothing to do with women’s rights, it is to do with the marketplace. Women tend to win easily in the early rounds, so they are able to play in the doubles. Some of the early round matches last up to three sets, whereas even Sampras could have a first-round five-setter.

‘‘Seven different people have won the last seven Grand Slam singles titles and that shows how the competitiveness at the top level of the women’s game has grown.

‘‘We also recognise that the top women take away more money from Wimbledon than the men.

‘‘Last year Venus Williams took away eight per cent more than Pete Sampras, because she won the doubles, when Sampras did not partake.’’