Rain, wind washes out Wimbledon fine-tuning

EASTBOURNE: Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon preparations were left drenched and flapping in England’s south coast wind yesterday as Eastbourne’s Aegon International was scrapped for the day with no matches completed because of rain.

The Serb world No 4 accepted a late wildcard into the grasscourt event, desperate to fine-tune his erratic form, but managed just one game against Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil before the rain set in.

While fans sought cover and raised umbrellas, organisers pushed back the resumption of play several times before finally accepting the British summer weather had got the better of them at about 6pm local time.

The tournament director brought today’s start of play half an hour earlier to 10.30am, with a backlog building.

As well as Djokovic, women’s French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and runner-up Simona Halep are scheduled to play, but in Ostapenko’s case only if British hope Johanna Konta can complete an earlier round earlier in the day. Other big names hoping to stretch their limbs on the lush lawns of Devonshire Park include women’s world number one Angelique Kerber, and French players Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils.

The forecast is not great, though, with rain predicted for much of the morning, and lengthy spells of the afternoon.

Fans who left Devonshire Park barely seeing a ball struck would, at least, be refunded, the tournament said. – Reuters