Rain brings frustration at Flushing Meadows

Jennifer Capriati and Justine Henin-Hardenne were the only players to claim victories on day eight of the US Open as rain ruined the schedule at Flushing Meadows.

All four men's fourth-round matches, including Andre Agassi's clash with Taylor Dent, were postponed. But organisers did their best to fit in the women's singles action.

Light drizzle held up the play until about 1.20pm local time (6.20pm Irish time), when sixth seed Capriati began her fourth round match with number 11 seed Elena Dementieva of Russia.

Capriati took a 4-0, 40-15 lead before a steadier rain began to fall, sending the players back to the locker room.

The players were not able to get back into action until 6.20pm (11.20pm Irish time), only to have the rain resume 40 minutes later, with Capriati leading 6-2 3-2 30-0.

Even the slightest water on the cement courts forces the suspension of play as the surface gets dangerously slick.

To reward patient fans, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, and later the US doubles pair of Bob and Mike Bryan, came out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium and hit balls and souvenirs into the crowd for five minutes.

The players returned again an hour later, a few drops fell and some gnats descended as Capriati wrapped up her third win over Dementieva in as many meetings 6-2 7-5.

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne then beat Dinara Safina (sister of Marat Safin) 6-0 6-3 in 57 minutes, but the match only went ahead after a court inspection which interrupted the warm-up.

Fewer than 50 fans were on hand at the Grandstand Court when seventh seed Anstasia Myskina and two-time Grand Slam title winner Mary Pierce began their encounter a little after 11pm (3am Irish time).

When play was stopped for the day about 40 minutes later, Myskina led 4-2 in the first set, while 15th seed Ai Sugiyama and No. 29 Francesca Schiavone were level at 6-6 in the first set.