Play abandoned after seven rain breaks

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) Play was finally abandoned at 1155 hrs IST at Wimbledon today after seven rain breaks frustrated players and fans on the eighth day of the championships.

Only 13 minutes of action had been possible between the last two downpours.

Rain has badly disrupted the tournament and the unsettled weather is forecast to continue for the rest of the week.

Second seed Rafael Nadal and Robin Soderling ran for cover at 4-4 in the final set of a third round contest that had been scheduled to start last Saturday. It was their fifth rain break in a match spanning two days.

REUTERS TB RAI0030