Wimbledon plays catch-up as Federer takes break

LONDON: Four-time champion Roger Federer could afford to relax and watch the pretenders to his Wimbledon throne play catch-up on Monday as All England Club chiefs hoped for an end to the torrential rain which played havoc with the first week.   

Top seed Federer was handed a free pass to the quarter-finals when fourth round opponent Tommy Haas pulled out with a stomach injury.   

In stark contrast, second seed Rafael Nadal has yet to play his third round match after his scheduled clash with Sweden's Robin Soderling was one of the matches which was washed away in Saturday's deluge.   

Federer won't play again until Wednesday while the Spaniard, the runner-up to the world number one last year, faces the prospect of three matches in three days.   

Women's top seed Justine Henin, who has yet to win a Wimbledon title, opens Centre Court action with a fourth round clash against experienced Swiss Patty Schnyder.   

Play on the two main show courts has been brought forward by two hours in an effort to clear the backlog after Saturday's rain meant only two matches were completed and just 75 minutes of action was possible.   

Also in action on Monday are former women's champions Venus and Serena Williams while, in the men's event, 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt takes on Guillermo Canas in his delayed third round match.   

Meanwhile, security was stepped up around Wimbledon in the wake of the attempted car bomb attacks in Glasgow and London.   

A police helicopter hovered above the venue in south-west London while all entrances were protected by a series of concrete blocks to foil similar attacks.