Wimbledon back to normal as rain delays start

Friday, 3 July 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON (Reuters): After a three-day heatwave and all-time record temperatures it was back to normal at Wimbledon on Thursday as light showers delayed the start of play on the outside courts.

The action was due to start at 1030 GMT but with the covers on to protect the grass, it was put back to around 1130 with the matches on the show courts expected to begin on schedule half an hour later.

Home favourite Andy Murray, the third seed, is first up on Number One, facing Dutch world number 78 Robin Haase.

Second seed Roger Federer continues his quest for an unprecedented eighth title when he takes on big-serving Sam Querrey, one of a dwindling handful of Americans left in the tournament.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova plays Japan’s Kurumi Nara and Rafa Nadal will be the tea-time attraction on Centre Court when he meets unconventional German Dustin Brown.

Most of the big names in the men’s and women’s draws have advanced relatively untroubled so far and if that trend continues it will set up some heavyweight clashes in the second week.

Ivanovic dumped out of Wimbledon by American qualifier

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts during her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S.A. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reacts during her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S.A. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 1, 2015. REUTERS

Reuters: Ana Ivanovic became the highest-profile casualty of Wimbledon’s opening days as the seventh seed fell to 158th-ranked qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands in a second round clash on Wednesday.

Ivanovic, a former French Open Champion and world number one, lost 6-3 6-4 to become the second-highest seed to exit the women’s draw after Simona Halep was beaten on Tuesday.

While it is seven years since the Serb clinched the title at Roland Garros, she had appeared to be on her way back to her best after reaching the last four on the Paris clay a month ago.

Yet she was put under pressure from the start by the tattooed American Mattek-Sands, who was playing in the second round at Wimbledon for only the third time.

“She was aggressive. She was coming in a lot. I thought she was hitting lots of winners off the forehand side,” said the Serb whose boyfriend, Germany soccer international Bastian Schweinsteiger, was cheering her on in the crowd.

“She made some errors, but there was not really a rhythm out there, for example, like I had in my first match. I kind of expected that. She played well. She served well.”

Ivanovic’s career has been somewhat turbulent after she won the French as a 20-year-old in 2008.