Wimbledon battles the elements

WIMBLEDON organisers are fighting an increasingly desperate battle to get this year’s event finished on time.

The tournament is badly behind schedule after seven days of rain interruptions.

Yesterday should be quarter-finals day for the men, but in the event two third-round and two fourth-round ties needed to be completed.

Earlier this week tournament referee Andrew Jarrett defended the decision not to play matches on this year’s middle Sunday. He argued that before Saturday, when only 57 minutes of play was possible on Centre Court, the singles events had been on schedule.