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Wimbledon washout avoided as rains ease on day five Wimbledon washout avoided as rains ease on day five
(3 months later)
You could call it the weather miracle of SW19. A forecast of more or less continuous rain from 9am to 9pm on Friday threatened to bring chaos to the Wimbledon schedules. By the time play on the outside courts was due to begin, the threatened damp pall hung seemingly immovable.You could call it the weather miracle of SW19. A forecast of more or less continuous rain from 9am to 9pm on Friday threatened to bring chaos to the Wimbledon schedules. By the time play on the outside courts was due to begin, the threatened damp pall hung seemingly immovable.
But then the surprise. Little more than an hour later the showers eased and play began. By late afternoon there were scattered patches of blue sky, with conditions sufficiently muggy for Murray Mound, the grassy slope set around a giant TV screen, to be dotted with fans snoozing off their early Pimm's. The schedule was saved. Some rain returned in late afternoon, but not before the bulk of the playing day had been completed.But then the surprise. Little more than an hour later the showers eased and play began. By late afternoon there were scattered patches of blue sky, with conditions sufficiently muggy for Murray Mound, the grassy slope set around a giant TV screen, to be dotted with fans snoozing off their early Pimm's. The schedule was saved. Some rain returned in late afternoon, but not before the bulk of the playing day had been completed.
What was good news for officials was, however, a mixed blessing for players sliding around on the turf during early games still marred by very occasional showers. The most unfortunate was the Bulgarian 29th seed, Grigor Dimitrov, who slid heavily onto his hip to concede match point in a tie resumed at two sets all. A ten-minute sitdown saw him save that game but he soon succumbed to the unseeded Slovakian, Grega Zemlja.What was good news for officials was, however, a mixed blessing for players sliding around on the turf during early games still marred by very occasional showers. The most unfortunate was the Bulgarian 29th seed, Grigor Dimitrov, who slid heavily onto his hip to concede match point in a tie resumed at two sets all. A ten-minute sitdown saw him save that game but he soon succumbed to the unseeded Slovakian, Grega Zemlja.
Conditions were "pretty tough", conceded Dimitrov, a former Wimbledon boys' champion, but he nobly declined invitations to blame the organisers.Conditions were "pretty tough", conceded Dimitrov, a former Wimbledon boys' champion, but he nobly declined invitations to blame the organisers.
The unexpected weather reprieve brought problems of a very different kind for some of the fans who queued overnight and faced the initial prospect of no play all day except under the sliding roof of Centre Court.The unexpected weather reprieve brought problems of a very different kind for some of the fans who queued overnight and faced the initial prospect of no play all day except under the sliding roof of Centre Court.
A quartet who joined the queue at 5am, Luke Jackson and Chris Akkari, both 24, Holly Jackson, 26 and 25-year-old Georgie Watson, spurned the Court One tickets on offer when they got to the head of the line on the assumption it would be a washout. Instead they sprinted for one of the cherished picnic tables at Murray Mound, in view of the big screen. Beneath a canopy of umbrellas they laid out an early picnic and settled in for the day.A quartet who joined the queue at 5am, Luke Jackson and Chris Akkari, both 24, Holly Jackson, 26 and 25-year-old Georgie Watson, spurned the Court One tickets on offer when they got to the head of the line on the assumption it would be a washout. Instead they sprinted for one of the cherished picnic tables at Murray Mound, in view of the big screen. Beneath a canopy of umbrellas they laid out an early picnic and settled in for the day.
"We did wonder about going, given the weather forecast, but booked a cab before we went to bed so we didn't have a choice," said Jackson of their 4am start from nearby Clapham in south London. "It's a pity about the weather, but we're having fun.""We did wonder about going, given the weather forecast, but booked a cab before we went to bed so we didn't have a choice," said Jackson of their 4am start from nearby Clapham in south London. "It's a pity about the weather, but we're having fun."
Five hours later, the sky cleared and the umbrellas furled, the group had enjoyed a very different sort of day.Five hours later, the sky cleared and the umbrellas furled, the group had enjoyed a very different sort of day.
"When the rain stopped we thought we'd made a big mistake," said Holly Jackson, Luke's cousin. "But then a man gave us a pair of Court One tickets he couldn't use, a few rows from the front, and we've been taking it in turns to go. It's been the best of both worlds.""When the rain stopped we thought we'd made a big mistake," said Holly Jackson, Luke's cousin. "But then a man gave us a pair of Court One tickets he couldn't use, a few rows from the front, and we've been taking it in turns to go. It's been the best of both worlds."
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