Champion Mauresmo faces battle with the weather

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) Amelie Mauresmo resumes the defence of her title on Centre Court today where the Wimbledon weather could prove a greater obstacle than her third round opponent, 28th seed Mara Santangelo.

The French number four seed was an easy winner when the pair met on grass for the first time in Eastbourne earlier this month but the Italian number one ran her closer at the same stage of the US Open last year.

Following her on to the Centre Court will be French Open champion Rafael Nadal, who remains the main threat to dethrone four-times winner Roger Federer.

Last year's finalist takes on the 28th-seeded Robin Soderling, the Swede having yet to progress beyond the last 32 in a grand slam event.

Former champions Lleyton Hewitt and Maria Sharapova are also in action. The 2002 men's champion faces a tricky encounter against Argentine Guillermo Canas while women's second seed should be too strong for Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

On court 13, one of the more intriguing contests pits 36-year-old Wayne Arthurs against Jonas Bjorman, the Swedish number 19 seed one year his junior.

Arthurs, who will retire at the end of the season, joked with reporters this week: ''I don't think we're allowed to play before Monday because the over 35s doesn't start until next week.'' Should the weather turn out to be as bad as forecasters are warning, he may get his wish.

REUTERS TB BST1100