Wimbledon Corner: Dispatches from SW19

IT TOOK two days for eight British women in the singles tournament to be eliminated, starting in the first round with British No 1 and world No 77, Sam Smith, and ending in the second round on Wednesday, when the two survivors succumbed.

Questions will be asked about the state of the British women's game but it is instructive to know how caring the Lawn Tennis Association coaching staff can be. During the exit of one Brit, a coach was overheard bemoaning his charge's chances. "What we need is a cattle prodder," he said. "An electric one. That'd get her moving from the baseline."

Todays number: 100

The percentage increase in the price of official Championships programmes between 1989 (pounds 2.50) and today (pounds 5). Prize money has risen by 139.5 per cent, from pounds 190,000 to pounds 455,000 for men, and from pounds 171,000 to pounds 409,500 for women.