Rain-hit Wimbledon considering play on middle Sunday

Wimbledon organisers admitted they were considering playing on the middle Sunday for the first time in 12 years in an attempt to get the rain-lashed tournament back on track, said an official. “Sunday play is being considered but a decision won’t be made until tomorrow,” a spokesman for the All England Club said Friday. Play on the middle Sunday — the traditional rest day in the Wimbledon fortnight — last took place in 2004.

It has only happened on two other occasions: in 1991 and 1997. This year’s Wimbledon has been badly affected by the weather with long delays on Tuesday and Wednesday. Only one minute of action was possible on the outside courts on Friday and just a quarter of an hour on Court One with a resumption not expected before 3:00pm (1400 GMT). Rain has seriously disrupted the schedules for the past four days. Organisers had to pay out refunds of between 50 percent and 100 percent.

There were still 16 second round singles matches to complete on Friday — the day usually reserved for the start of the third round.

Play on Centre Court, featuring Juan Martin del Potro against Stan Wawrinka was continuing under the roof, with multiple Wimbledon champions Serena Williams and Roger Federer due to play later Friday.