Strawberries And Cream, But No 'Stalkers' For Wimbledon

Strict security measures are being put in place for this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament - and 11 potential stalkers have been warned to stay away.

It is understood that police handling security have contacted the known "fixated individuals" telling them to steer clear of the tournament.

Superintendent Pete Dobson said there are "a number of individuals well known to the police, the All England Club and the tennis authorities".

It is also believed that a member of one of the player's family has had a restraining order put in place, which bars them from the event.

There have been a number of serious incidents concerning stalkers in the past.

In 1993, Monica Seles was stabbed in the back with a boning knife while sitting during a changeover in a quarter-final match at Hamburg.

It emerged that her attacker, German national Gunter Parche - was actually stalking Sele's rival, Steffi Graf.

A man thought to be stalking Maria Sharapova was banned from the tournament in 2005.

Croation-born Dubravko Rajcevic, was convicted of stalking Martina Hingis at the Ericsson Open in 2007.

The officer leading this year's Wimbledon security operation has not revealed which players are at risk but said that Maria Sharapova and that sisters Venus and Serena Williams were hassled by stalkers in the past.

"Maria Sharapova does have some fixated individuals interested in her, as do Venus and Serena Williams. I would say the two sisters have had the most interest over there years," he said.

Measures in place for this year include concrete blocks on the roads leading to the venue and the Royal Box on Centre Court being searched every day.

Those found to be behaving "antisocially" could face a three-month prison term or a £2,000 fine.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which is responsible for staging the world's leading tennis tournament, is a private club founded in 1868 as The All England Croquet Club.

(DS)