Rain disrupts Australian Open schedule

MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) Persistent rain meant no play was possible on any of the outside courts at the Australian Open day.

Organisers abandoned any hope of action on the uncovered courts at 1700 local time after drizzle left the playing surfaces covered in standing water.

The match between Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, the 13th seed, and Russia's Vera Zvonareva was switched to the covered Rod Laver Arena before the evening session.

The men's third-round clash between British 15th seed Andy Murray and Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela was also moved indoors as the last scheduled match on Vodafone Arena.

REUTERS PM KP1222