Tennis stars suffer over US travel fears

ANDY RODDICK may be the bookies’ favourite and Andre Agassi the sentimental choice, but the two players can expect scant support from their compatriots at Wimbledon this year.

Americans are staying away again, according to local tradespeople, because they are worried about travelling.

David Hellier, who has run a T-shirt stall along Wimbledon Park road leading to the All England Club for more than a decade, said American trade had plunged last year after the September 11 attacks and was still down following the Iraq war.

“They are scared to come to London, maybe other places but not London,” he said.

Lila Patel, whose sweet and paper shop next door does brisk business during Wimbledon fortnight, said she had noticed a real decline in fans from the US.

“There were people who came regularly every year, always dropped in, but they haven’t been back these last two years,” she said.

“There are far fewer foreign people this year,” she added. “And a lot more police.”

Southfields underground station, set in leafy suburbia, where many tennis fans arrive before walking up the hill to the club, has been guarded by officers since the tournament started last Monday.

Yesterday some were wearing bullet-proof vests, though their main job appeared to be giving confused passengers directions to the championships.

Wimbledon organisers have said security has been stepped up for this year’s tournament, but are reluctant to give details.

For the first time the 1,500 catering staff have been screened and security staff have been given the power to conduct random body searches.

British spectators, used to bag checks and security alerts, have taken the new measures in their stride and appear still happy to queue for 24 hours, for centre court tickets.

Patel said business was brisk enough without the Americans.