HEAVY rain forced tournament organisers to cancel all matches at the Mildura Grand Tennis International on Wednesday.
The unseasonal conditions saw 16.6mm fall between 9am to 2pm, forcing play to be abandoned and matches rescheduled to Thursday.
“Talking to the groundsman he was quite positive in the morning, but he said once we hit an inch of rain the puddles would start and he’s been spot on,” Mildura Grand Tennis International ITF supervisor Scott Ray said from a wet Mildura Lawn Tennis Club.
Ray said he expected the time lost through Wednesday’s wet weather would be made up over the next few days.
“Fortunately it is early in the tournament so we have five days left and we only have about 60 matches to play in five days so it is not that big an issue,” Ray said.
“We can extend the doubles out a little bit – so instead of a Friday final we can play that out on Saturday or Sunday.
“But we also understand the men, in particular, are trying to get to Geelong next week, so we have to be mindful of that.
“It will just mean some of the singles players will have to play a couple of matches in the one day.”
Ray said while it was disappointing to lose a day’s play, it would not be a major inconvenience to players who remain in the main draw.
“It’s an outdoor sport so they understand these situations – it’s not ideal, but the rules allow for them to play two singles and doubles in a day and the rules also allow us to give them the break they need – a reasonable break between matches during the day so no one is unfairly treated.
“It is great having so many courts and with sunset still around 8pm it gives us plenty of flexibility to allow the players to have two matches in one day and still have the opportunity to perform at their best
“We will make sure the rules are applied and they will get the rest they are entitled to.”
It is not the first time Ray can remember rain causing a delay to matches at the Mildura Grand Tennis International.
“I do remember we had one washed-out final five or six years ago,” he said. “But a lot of the locals have said they haven’t seen rain like this for ages – so we bring the Pro Tour to town and we break the drought.
“With what has been going on in Australia in recent times, I think everyone is happy to see rain and it doesn’t affect us too much.
“These courts are amazing, so I think with the little bit of sun tomorrow – and the forecast is good – hopefully by early morning we will be back on court.
“With a couple of days under the baking Mildura sun I’m sure they (the courts) will be back to the standard that we expect up here.”
