No play as clouds open

Even the most optimistic spectators could tell yesterday that the skies were never going to clear. After a first week of record attendances every day, Wimbledon finally bowed to the rain and not one match was completed. Play was officially abandoned shortly before 7.0 p.m.

The closest Centre Court came to seeing some action was when Tim Henman and Jim Courier arrived on court mid-afternoon. They hit one or two balls at the beginning of their warm-up before the clouds opened again. From there on the rain failed to hold off for more than a few moments.

The organisers were desperately hoping a couple of matches could be completed and that the people who arrived would at least see a little more than Courier and Henman take off their track suits.

The main Centre Court match broke on Monday with Henman winning 6-4, 5-7, 5-7 and 4-3 up in the fourth set. Other matches which might have been completed involved Steffi Graf, who led Holland's Kim Clijsters by a set (6-2) and was 4-2 ahead in the second. The men's singles match between Cederic Pioline and Karol Kucera was also in the fourth set, while Nathalie Tauzait's match against Belgium's Dominique van Roost is still poised with Tauzait a set up and 1-0 down in the second.

Today is supposed to be a little better with broken skies. In an effort to catch up, play on all courts will begin at noon.

Britain and America have been seeded to meet in the final of the Windmill Trophy, the men's team event to be staged at Wimbledon from August 2nd-9th to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain.