Notebook

More rain prompts officials to consider adding roof

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- After three rainy days in a row, Wimbledon officials are again talking about putting a roof over Centre Court.

Only 1 hour, 42 minutes of play was possible Wednesday because of the rain. Play on Thursday started an hour early to try to clear some of the backlog.

"We know that it is physically possible to build a roof as has happened elsewhere," All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said.

"We owe it to tennis fans to investigate all the possibilities for play to take place even if it is raining. At the same time, we must have positive answers to a number of vital questions.

"It is essential that neither player safety nor the grass growth on any of the courts is affected by such a structure. We will continue to carry out experiments that might give us solutions to these potential pitfalls."

Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe is in favor of a roof.

"I would go with the roof," McEnroe said. "It would absolutely help everyone, not least the schedulers and the referees."

But fellow three-time champ Boris Becker said Wimbledon's tradition needs to be maintained.

"I don't know what roof they could put in without losing the character of the place," Becker said.

Odds on Venus

William Hill rates Venus as a 8-15 favorite, with Serena at 11-8.

In the men's event, top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt is the 4-6 favorite, with Tim Henman and Belgian Xavier Malisse both at 7-2, and Argentine David Nalbandian at 10-1. Friday's semifinal pairings: Hewitt vs. Henman and Malisse vs. Nalbandian.

Hewitt, Lleyton Hewitt

George Lazenby, the only Australian to have played the suave British secret agent, wouldn't miss watching a Hewitt match, his new wife Pam Shriver said.

Lazenby and Shriver, a former top 10 player, got married three weeks ago in Los Angeles and are on honeymoon at Wimbledon, where Shriver is doing television commentary for the BBC.

Lazenby, who played Bond in the 1969 film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," has been dividing his time between the tennis and various London golf courses.

"We're having a great time," Shriver told British newspaper the Daily Mail. "George is loving the golf over here but he won't miss any of Hewitt's matches."

Shriver and Lazenby met at Wimbledon two years ago when they were introduced by a mutual friend over a cup of tea in the competitors' restaurant at the All England Club.

Martina relaxing

"I haven't set a date for my comeback," Hingis told a web chat with the WTA Tour. "No time frame. I did see my doctor and all is doing good but it has only been five weeks since my surgery. I don't want to rush anything and jeopardize the rest of the season."

Hingis, who also missed the French Open, said she was watching Wimbledon on television.

Philippoussis needed 3 days to lose 5 sets

But after coming back from three knee operations, the Australian is optimistic.

"One or two points, that's all it's taken," he said after his 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss in the fourth round at Wimbledon. "You know, sooner or later, things will start going my way.

"So I've just got to hang in there, train hard, keep committing myself on the court, keep fighting, and it will turn around for me. I know it will."

The match was scheduled for Monday but rain pushed it back to Tuesday. Four sets were played before darkness and rain fell and the final set was played late Wednesday after one rain delay.

Krajicek had elbow surgery two years ago that threatened his career. Philippoussis said the Dutchman deserved to win.

Philippoussis is a three-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist.

"I came here, I gave my best," he said. "I'm 25 years old. I've got another six or seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once."

Fit for a queen

The second-seeded Williams wore a glittery silver tiara in her dyed blonde hair Wednesday while beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-2 to make the semifinals.

Williams has also worn a black plaited sparkly headband on court -- her chance to dress up the regulation all-white outfit.

"I played doubles with it first," she said. "My mom likes it more than the black one, although I like the black one more."

When asked how she found one to stay on her head while playing tennis, she replied: "I don't know, luck of the draw, I guess."

Touched by an angel

Any particular angel?

The Frenchwoman laughed and replied, "Yeah, me."

Mauresmo advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time with a 6-3, 6-2 win over third-seeded Jennifer Capriati. Her best Grand Slam appearance was in 1999, when she made the final of the Australian Open.

 

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