WIMBLEDON, England — Boris Becker believes Pete Sampras won't be back at Wimbledon.

        Sampras, a seven-time champion, lost to George Bastl in the second round Wednesday, his earliest defeat at the All England Club in 11 years.

        “To me, his Wimbledon life stopped at that moment,” Becker wrote in a column in Saturday's Times newspaper. ”"That's it,' I said, 'He will not come back. That is the end of Pete.'

        “We had a seven-times champion who had spent much of a second-round match reading a letter of inspiration from his wife — out in the open, on a show court at Wimbledon, not at the dinner table in the candlelight.

        “I could not believe the whole thing. He had sunk into himself at the end of the match. Maybe he was shedding a tear, not in public but inside.”

        Sampras said after the match he would definitely be back.

        “Whatever happens, though, he will be in a state of turmoil because he knows his career is close to the end, and for an athlete, that situation is the hardest to bear,” Becker said.

        ————

        SHOWY ROYAL BOX: Showbiz mixed with sporting greats in the Royal Box on Saturday.

        Four-time Wimbledon runner-up Ken Rosewall was seated with fellow Australian Frank Sedgeman, who in 1952 won the Wimbledon singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles — the last player to accomplish the feat.

        The entertainment world was represented by “Spider-Man” actress Kirsten Dunst, New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and British comedy actor Ronnie Corbett.

        South Africa's Retief Goosen, the U.S. Open winner in 2001, supported Wayne Ferreira in his match against Britain's Tim Henman. Henman won the third-round match 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-1.

        Martin Keown and Darius Vassell, who played for England in the World Cup, were there, alongside newly-knighted Newcastle soccer manager Bobby Robson.

        Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing, and Matthew Pinsent, a three-time Olympic champion in rowing, sat alongside Alex Coomber, a bronze medal winner in the Olympic skeleton. Members of the British women's curling team, who won the country's only gold in the Salt Lake City Games, were also in attendance.

        ———

        ATTENDANCE UP: Friday's attendance at Wimbledon was a record for the fifth day of the championship. Organizers said 41,595 people attended, an increase of 948 over last year.

        On Wednesday, Wimbledon set a record for single-day attendance, with sunny skies attracting 42,457, up by 1,311 from last year.

        Overnight Friday night, 10,000 people camped out outside the All England Club for tickets to Saturday matches. The lines stretched more than a mile.

        ————

        FUTURE CHAMPIONS: Sixteen British children were given the chance to play on the courts at Wimbledon Saturday as part of a program by the country's Lawn Tennis Association.

        The children, between 10 and 13, played demonstration matches before the start of competition. Girls played on Centre Court and the boys on Court 1.

        “This provides a great incentive for these talented young players,” said LTA spokesman Mark Cox, a former British player. “What better venue to demonstrate the skills of our most promising young players and give them the taste of the greatest atmosphere in tennis.”

        —————

        SECOND SERVES: Feliciano Lopez fought off seven match points while winning his first two matches at Wimbledon. On Saturday, he didn't need to save any while beating Rainer Schuettler of Germany, the 17th seed, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-4. If he beats Andre Sa in the next round, he'll be the first Spaniard since Manuel Orantes in 1972 to reach the quarterfinals. ... Ukrainian-born Elena Baltacha, the last British woman in the draw, lost her third-round match Saturday to Elena Likhovtseva 6-4, 7-6 (2). ... British bookmakers William Hill are offering 10-1 odds that local hopes Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski will meet in the final. Henman is the 3-1 second favorite behind Lleyton Hewitt, listed at 6-4.

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