Wimbledon officials had to play down swine-flu fears yesterday after four ball boys and girls were asked to stay home with flu symptoms.

Ian Ritchie, the chief executive of the All England Club, issued a statement about the flu cases and asked all visitors and personnel to stay away from the championships if they develop any symptoms.

However, All England Club spokesman Henry O'Grady said there was no reason to suspect that swine flu had reached the tournament.

Flu symptoms

"There's no one that has swine flu," O'Grady said. "There are a couple of people that have flu symptoms, and, as a result, they've been asked to stay at home. ... They haven't been tested for swine flu, and they're not going to be tested."

O'Grady said he did not have any information about the staffers' ages or genders, or whether they went to the same school.

Five-time champion Roger Federer said the players were told about the flu cases "a couple of days ago."

"For sure not good news," Federer said after beating Robin Soderling in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals. "Especially for the players traveling around the world, meeting so many people. It's obviously not a good thing. But I'm sure the club, ATP, ITF, they're trying their very best to protect us as much as they can. Being careful, I think, is very important right now."

Venus Williams, who advanced after Ana Ivanovic retired with a thigh injury in the second set of their fourth-round match, didn't seem too concerned about the illness.