Never-ending rain, dwindling crowds, ear-splitting shrieks: Grimbledon!

 

By REBECCA CAMBER and DAN NEWLING - More by this author » Last updated at 22:02pm on 4th July 2007 Comments (3)

It has been building ever since the championships began last week. Wimbledon is in the grip of a deep depression. Players, officials and fans are all saying that this year's rain-ravaged event is the worst in living memory.

The appalling weather left Spanish No 2 seed Rafael Nadal facing the longest match in the history of the tournament, with a succession of postponements causing it to last a total of five days from first serve to winning point.

And there is speculation that Wimbledon Fortnight might have to be extended to as long as Wednesday of a third week before every match in all 13 junior and senior events is completed.

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Another summer day in SW19

 

 

The misery which has descended on SW19 was typified by the lack of interest from spectators yesterday. Only 1,186 fans were there by 8.30am yesterday to get one of 1,500 coveted wristbands which allow spectators to buy tickets for Centre Court and Courts One and Two.

 

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• The Battle of the Grunters: Sharapova takes on Venus

 

The tournament has largely been avoided by the Royal Family and yesterday no more than 12 of the 73 seats were occupied at any one time.

On court there was another depressing statistic, as Maria Sharapova's unladylike grunts and screams reached record volume in her defeat by Venus Williams.

Measured by the Mail's digital sound-meter from five yards away, the 20-year-old's trademark shriek reached a peak of 103.7 decibels - equivalent to the sound of a pneumatic drill. Her previous highest was 102.7db, recorded at Wimbledon last year.

Thanks to the dismal weather, officials were yesterday facing the biggest backlog in 25 years, with 177 matches behind schedule. Since 1919, 18 Wimbledon tournaments have had to be extended to complete the programme, 16 because of rain and two owing to players' commitments.

But there have been three occasions when it has gone on until Tuesday and it has run to a third Wednesday only once - in 1922.

Wimbledon's official historian Alan Little, who has worked at the tournament for 30 years, said: 'There have been lots of wet years at Wimbledon, but this is the worst I can remember.'

The chief executive of the All England Club, Ian Ritchie, warned spectators to avoid driving to the championships owing to the risk of getting stuck in the waterlogged car parks.

In a desperate attempt to wrap up play by Sunday with more bad weather on the way, men's doubles matches have been cut from five sets to three. A Wimbledon spokesman said: 'We hope at least to finish the singles finals on Sunday and the remaining matches may have to go into next week.'

...and no Sir Cliff Richard for a change!

(yet)

(yet)

 

Well he was in the crowd wearing a powder-blue suit the other day!! Mac even suggested he should go and get ready to perform because of all the rain stoppages!!:stunned:

He'll have to perform a large set, its raining for an 8th consecutive day!

He'll have to perform a large set, its raining for an 8th consecutive day!

 

:stunned:

...and now bad :bulb:

 

 

...and rain :rolleyes:

why dont they take it indoors?

Indoors? No way! That will violate their long-standing tradition.

funny you should mention that, they're building a roof on centre court

Oh i see....makes sense.