A bomb alert delayed the start of the Hastings Direct International Championship final at Eastbourne. Around 4,500 fans were asked to leave the grounds of the Devonshire Park stadium ahead of the clash between Chandra Rubin and Conchita Martinez under standard emergency procedures while an extensive search was carried out.
The start of play was put back by two hours and 30 minutes and the players - who also included Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati, due to play in the doubles final - went back to their hotels.
A spokesman for the organisers said: "Based on information received this morning and in the light of the current security climate in the UK the decision was taken to evacuate the grounds. Fans were allowed back in after nothing suspicious was found by security staff, who were assisted in their search by police."
Filed by Brendan Cole
