Record numbers turn out despite downturn

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) - Tennis fans turned out in record numbers for the first two days of Wimbledon, their love for the sport undeterred by the global financial uncertainty that has forced many people to rein in their spending.

Even Bank of England governor Mervyn King put rescuing the British economy from recession to one side as he watched local teenage hopeful Laura Robson lose her first round match at the start of the week.

Nearly 43,000 people attended the opening day's play at the All England Club, a record number for the first Monday of the two-week tournament, with almost 46,000 turning up Tuesday to set a record for second-day attendance.

"I'd probably eat beans on toast to be able to afford the ticket but at least I'd still keep it up," said 49-year-old architect and property developer Ian Hamilton, who had a ticket for Centre Court on the second day.

The number of hopefuls queuing for the 7,500 tickets available at the turnstiles each day also increased dramatically on both days -- topping more than 20,000 Tuesday, up from 14,740 on the same day last year, said the organisers.

AFFORDABLE PRICES

Wimbledon's always affordable ticket prices may have helped boost the tournament's recession-time appeal.

With ground passes for the first week at 20 pounds a day and a Centre Court seat on men's final day costing 100 pounds, they are lower than many other big sporting events.