Rain keeps stars waiting at Wimbledon

London

Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova were forced to hurry off Wimbledon's show courts as rain delayed the start of play on Tuesday.Defending men's champion Djokovic had just started warming up ahead of the final set of his fourth round tie against South Africa's Kevin Anderson, which was halted by fading light late on Monday after the Serb had come from two sets down to level the match.

Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon winner, was on Centre Court preparing for her quarter-final against Coco Vandeweghe of the United States when the showers brought the ground-staff racing on with the covers. Wimbledon officials said the rain wasn't due to last long and play was expected to start within an hour.