Rain delays Wimbledon action on Friday

LONDON (AFP) –

Ground staff pull on the protective rain covers on No 2 Court on day five of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. Rain delayed the start of play on the fifth day of Wimbledon as the third round was due to get underway.

Rain delayed the start of play on the fifth day of Wimbledon on Friday as the third round was due to get underway.

Orgnaisers said there would be no play before 1pm local time (1200GMT).

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Czech Radek Stepanek who is looking to follow the example of compatriot Lukas Rosol after the 26-year-old’s stunning victory over two-time champion Rafael Nadal in the second round on Thursday.

Roger Federer, the six-time champion, is also in action on Centre Court, facing France’s Julien Benneteau.

On Court One, women’s top seed Maria Sharapova takes on Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan while Kim Clijsters, playing her final Wimbledon before retirement, faces Russian 12th seed Vera Zvonareva.