The Lawn Tennis Championships from the All England Club

In accordance with tradition, the defending men's singles champion Boris Becker will open play this afternoon on the Centre Court. Becker is trying to win his third title in a row but he again faces formidable opposition. Among the contenders there's Ivan Lendl, the world's number one player and beaten finalist last year; Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg who head the Swedish challenge; Australia's Davis Cup hero Pat Cash; and John McEnroe who has won three times, the last in 1984 when, in the final against Jimmy Connors, he produced one of the finest exhibitions of tennis ever seen on the Centre Court.

Harry Carpenter introduces live coverage of Wimbledon 87, as the BBC celebrates 50 years of televising the event.

Feature: page 82 and Info: page 77