It is the abiding image of Wimbledon 2007: rain, rain and more rain with players scuttling off court and long-suffering British fans stoically sipping cups of tea.
LONDON: As a violent thunderstorm lashed Wimbledon and spectators ran for cover, the announcer begged them to put down their umbrellas in case they were struck by lightning.
It is the abiding image of Wimbledon 2007 -- rain, rain and more rain with players scuttling off court and long-suffering British fans stoically sipping cups of tea under dripping awnings.
Look out; here come the four horsemen of the apocalypse, one wag quipped as forked lightning struck behind Henman Hill, the grassy knoll named after British player Tim Henman.
Roll on 2009 when the most famous stage in tennis gets a retractable roof. Ageing British pop singer Cliff Richard, a guest in the royal box on Tuesday, has not so far been tempted to burst into song as he did on a memorable wet day in 1996 with a host of women players doing backing vocals.
Eating strawberries and cream and sipping champagne at Wimbledon are great rites of summer in Britain. In 2007, the attraction lost its lustre as spectators huddled together to stay warm.
"It's utterly ghastly," conceded tournament referee Andrew Jarrett as the prospect loomed of the rain-sodden tournament having to stretch into a third week.
That last happened in 2001 when mercurial Croat Goran Ivanisevic became the first wildcard to win a grand slam tournament.
Back at Wimbledon, weather permitting, to play in the veterans'' tournament, Ivanisevic was as phlegmatic as the British are about their atrocious summer. "Rain is part of Wimbledon, you cannot escape rain," he said.
"You go play for half an hour, then you sit down for two hours and then you play half an hour. This is what makes Wimbledon special," he added.
Contemplating yet another deluge, ever popular Indian player turned film star Vijay Amritraj, also competing with the veterans, quipped, "I love Wimbledon but why don't they stage it in the summe?"
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