I wonder how Rafael Nadal is gonna get a wink of sleep tonight. The Spaniard's third-round match against Robin Soderling was postponed at 4-4 in the fifth set due to rain. When play resumes tomorrow, the match will have been played over three seperate days. Meanwhile, Nadal's chief rival, Roger Federer, is already the quarterfinals because hisfourth-round opponent, Tommy Haas, withdrew with a stomach muscle injury Sunday. It means Federer will go from Friday until Wednesday without playing. He oughta be plenty fresh for his next opponent.
Also affected by the rain but having an easier time of it is top American Andy Roddick, the hearthrob ranked third in the world and twice the runner up at Wimbledon. Andy was leading Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-5 when the rain halted play. But 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt (pictured belowl, emoting) beat the rain and finishing off Guillermo Canas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 before things got too wet. Federer must be happy about Hewitt taking out Canas since the Spaniard beat Roger twice earlier this season and seems to have gotten into his head.
Hopefully, tomorrow will allow a full day of play because before I do the BBQ/fireworks thing, I want to watch lotsa tennis played on the lawns of the All England Club.