Security at Wimbledon was increased Friday after British police defused a bomb in central London. “All around the ground the security has been intensified,” Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper told BBC Radio. “We are a high-profile event, and the championships take security very seriously,” Draper said.

Security at Wimbledon was increased Friday after British police thwarted an apparent car bomb attack in central London. Police discovered a parked car in central London that was packed with gas containers and a large number of nails and a detonator. The attack would have caused “significant injury or loss of life,” police said.

It’s an annual rite of the British summer: Tim Henman battling in a five-set match on Centre Court. This time, it felt like the end of an era. Playing in his 14th Wimbledon, the 32-year-old Henman fought back from two sets down against Feliciano Lopez but faded in the final set Thursday and lost 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-6, 6-1.

James Blake won, then took on the critics. After advancing to the second round at Wimbledon by beating Igor Andreev of Russia 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Tuesday, Blake defended the state of American men’s tennis after an 0-9 showing in the first round of the French Open. “It was one of those coincidences or bad luck incidents where we had everything go wrong at the French Open,” Blake said.

In what might have been his last Wimbledon match, Justin Gimelstob made a bit of history: He was the first player to use instant replay at the All England Club. During his 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (3) first-round loss to Andy Roddick on Monday, the 155th-ranked Gimelstob invoked the “Hawk-Eye” challenge system to check one of his serves that was called wide in the first set.

Perhaps Serena Williams’ dad was simply trying to offer an explanation for her slow start at Wimbledon. In the process, he might have given her next opponent a bit of a scouting report. Either way, Williams was far from her best early in her first-round match at the All England Club on Monday, and afterward said she has a tight hamstring.

Eighth-seeded Andy Murray pulled out of Wimbledon with a right wrist injury Sunday, dealing a blow to British fans who considered him their best chance for a strong showing from a local player. “The doctor has advised me not to play and that I probably need about 10 days to be ready,” Murray said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think it is going to rain for the next 10 days.”

Second-seeded Ivan Ljubicic reached the final of the Ordina Open by defeating Julien Benneteau 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-4 Friday. Ljubicic could make it three straight wins for Croatia in Saturday’s final at the grass-court tournament, a Wimbledon warm-up. Mario Ancic won the last two Ordina Open titles. Ljubicic will play either Peter Wessels of the Netherlands or Antony Dupuis of France for the title.

Four-time defending champion Roger Federer will face Teimuraz Gabashvili in the first round Monday at Wimbledon. Federer, who defeated Rafael Nadal in last year’s final, has never played Gabashvili, who is ranked 85th in the world. Third-seeded Andy Roddick is in Federer’s top half of the draw and could meet the Swiss star in the semifinals.

Ivo Karlovic of Croatia reached the Nottingham Open semifinals, defeating Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 7-6 (10), 7-5 Thursday in a Wimbeldon tuneup hit by rain. The conclusion of the three other quarterfinals were postponed until Friday. Karlovic saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker.

Venus and Serena Williams are teaming up again. They will play doubles together for the first time since 2003 at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday. “They requested a wild card and they got it,” Venus Williams’ agent, Carlos Fleming, said by telephone Wednesday. The sisters haven’t been doubles partners at any tournament since losing in the round of 16 at the All England Club four years ago.

Four-time defending champion Roger Federer and Justine Henin are the top seeds at next week’s Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal, last year’s runner-up, was seeded No. 2 ahead of Andy Roddick. Defending women’s champion Amelie Mauresmo was seeded No. 4 in line with her world ranking. Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam tournament of the year, begins Monday.

Top-seeded Tommy Robredo beat Dutch qualifier Michel Koning 6-4, 7-6 (4) Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Ordina Open. Fifth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain lost 6-2, 3-6, 2-6 to Carlos Berlocq of Argentina, and Guillermo Canas defeated Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (5), 7-5 at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

The lawyer for Guillermo Coria told a jury Tuesday that the young tennis player lost two seasons, millions of dollars and his reputation because of “sloppy manufacturing” that tainted a multivitamin with a steroid. The trace amounts of a steroid, not listed on the label, led to a mandatory suspension for Coria, an Argentine who was once ranked No.

Tim Henman won just his second ATP Tour match this year on Tuesday, beating Michael Russell of the United States 6-1, 7-6 (5) at the Nottingham Open. Henman struggled to hold serve in the second set before advancing to the second round of the Wimbledon warmup. “I knew it was never going to be plain sailing and there were a few nervy points along the way,” Henman said.