Wimbledon act to halt seeding row

Wimbledon officials today agreed to scrap their controversial seeding policy but are to maintain their stance on blocking equal prize money for the men's and women's singles champions at this year's tournament.

If Pete Sampras extends his record singles run to eight titles this year he will collect a cheque for £500,000 while the women's champion will pocket £462,500. The women's prize is 92 per cent of the men's - up two per cent on last year.

The 2000 Championships were marred by the refusal to play of Spanish stars Albert Costa and Alex Coretja because of Wimbledon's insistence on using their own seeding committee rather than the ATP Tour rankings.

Gustavo Kuerten, the Brazilian former world No 1 who won the Monte Carlo tournament on Sunday, has said he would miss Wimbledon if the seeding committee went its own way again.

As a result of all these adverse comments Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Club, today revealed that a new trial system will be put in place for this year's Championships , although the mechanics of the seedings have yet to be finalised. Phillips pointed out that if Wimbledon had gone with the ATP rankings last year Sampras would have been ranked No 4 and not top seed, the place he was given.

Finalist Pat Rafter was ranked only 23 going into Wimbledon but was given a ranking of No 12 which meant he did not meet any of the other big names in the early rounds.