Play starts at Wimbledon

London, June 30: Play at Wimbledon finally started today following a four-hour rain delay. Play on the outside courts had been scheduled to start at 1000 GMT and on the main courts at 1200. The bad weather has so far interrupted all but two days of the grasscourt championships and the forecast remains grim well into next week.

But organisers said that despite a wet first week there would be no play tomorrow.

The middle Sunday of the tournament has traditionally been a rest day but on three occasions organisers had to use the day to get the timetable back on track.

''Irrespective of the amount of play today, I can confirm that we are sufficiently on schedule and that, therefore, there will be no play tomorrow, Sunday,'' All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said in a statement.

Among those affected by the delays on Saturday were defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, 2004 winner Maria Sharapova and three-times former champion Venus Williams. In the men's draw, world number two Rafael Nadal was also due on court.

REUTERS>