'People's Final' a thing of past

Wimbledon today ruled out a repeat of the 'People's Final' next year, despite the huge success of yesterday's thrilling clash between Goran Ivanisevic and Patrick Rafter.

In normal circumstances only 54 per cent of tickets are sold to the public through the annual ballot six months before the tournament and through the 2,400 tennis clubs affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association. The rest go to debenture holders, members and corporate guests.

But with bad weather forcing the championships into a third Monday, officials decided to put 15,000 tickets on sale on a first come, first served basis.

Nearly all the tickets were snapped up just two hours before the match by fans who queued overnight.

The club's allocation of 10,000 Centre Court seats were all sold for £40 each while a further 3,370, £10 ground passes were also sold.

It created a unique and highly-charged atmosphere which was a break from the usually restrained crowds.

Despite that Chris Gorringe, chief executive of the All England Club, said today: "The club is delighted with the outcome of the final itself and the atmosphere created by the fans.

"But there is a public safety issue involved if we sell the tickets on a first come, first served basis."

Meanwhile, Britain's Martin Lee pulled off a fine victory in the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport today when he beat fifth-seeded German Lars Burgsmuller 6-3, 6-2. Top seed Vladimir Voltchkov was among five seeded players to lose. Voltchkov of Belarus suffered his fourth straight defeat of the grass-court season, losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to unseeded American James Blake.

Men's final - in pictures