Sampras voted greatest champion

Nothing it seems, stirs Wimbledon's calm waters quite like an argument about the greatest men's champion in the Open era.

The original plan was to allow the commentary team of Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Boris Becker et al decide among themselves a player worthy of the title - but even these great names were flummoxed.

First the rules - you could only choose players from the Open era at Wimbledon, 1968 onwards, and we were looking for the greatest champion - not necessarily the best player.

That 36.21% of you chose 'Pistol' Pete Sampras is no real surprise - the American was the unrivalled champion of the '90s, winning seven titles between 1990 and 2000.

Blessed with a thunderous serve and an immaculate serve and volley game, Sampras was made for Wimbledon, and the tournament rewarded him handsomely.

The majority of you disagreed with three times champion and former BBC commentator John McEnroe, who picked Rod Laver out as his choice.

The Australian won four times in the 1960s, but only polled 5.43% of the vote - which seemed to suggest that most voters were too young to remember him.

Or maybe not - the 'silver surfers' responded to Sue Barker's suggestion that many over 50s weren't exactly computer literate, with a surge of emails, votes and even the odd text.

Eighty-five year old Joan Sutherland from Liverpool said: "I'm clicking away on the Rod Laver button to give his vote a boost," - sadly it wasn't enough.

But at least he didn't fare as badly as BBC commentator Pat Cash, who polled a miserly one percent and came last in the poll.

Last that is, among eight of tennis' all-time greats - most of us can just dream.

Greatest men's champ vote
Pete Sampras - 36.21%
Bjorn Borg - 30.55%
John McEnroe - 12.01%
Boris Becker - 8.35%
Rod Laver - 5.43%
Andre Agassi - 4.71%
Jimmy Connors - 1.63%
Pat Cash - 1.11%