HEAVY rain showers at Wimbledon this morning ahead of Ladies’ Final Day – and a whole lot more.
A few optimistic – or is it pessimistic? – souls are already camped out in Wimbledon Park in case rain delays lead to play on Monday.
Today’s all-Williams final is on Centre Court at 2pm and the weather forecast is for the rain to clear.
The covers have come off since the photos (below) were taken around 8.30am.
Venus and Serena are then due to return later in the day to play their ladies’ doubles final.
Fans who have tickets for Court 1 have a real bonus – Britain’s Laura Robson, 14, in her Girls’ Final against third seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, 16, of Thailand.
I watched Stockport’s Naomi Broady, 18, come close to beating Noppa – as we shall call her – in the quarter finals.


TEENAGE sensation Laura Robson tomorrow bids to become the first British singles winner at Wimbledon since 1984.
Through to the girls’ singles final, she gave yet another accomplished performance in the press room this afternoon.
I asked her if she could sum up how it feels to get to a Wimbledon final.
“Really, really good. It’s just an overwhelming experience,” she smiled.
“There were so many people watching me today.
“The crowd and the support is really good.”
Laura defeated Romana Tabakova, 17, of Slovakia in straight sets 6-2 7-5 in front of a packed Court Three.
In the eighth game of the second set her opponent was booed after she resorted to an underhand serve which left Laura stranded on the baseline.


IT gets my vote as the worst question of Wimbledon 2008 – so far.
France’s Arnaud Clement had just lost a marathon five-hour quarter final against Germany’s Rainer Schuettler.
Their five set encounter over two days tied as the second longest singles match in Wimbledon history.
As you might imagine, Arnaud was not in the best of moods when he walked into the press conference room last night.
Which is when one of the foreign correspondents here asked him if he had a special plan for his semi final today against Rafael Nadal.
It did not improve defeated Arnaud’s mood.
“I’m not playing tomorrow,” pointed out the Frenchman, who had match point against his opponent before losing.
Day 11 sees Rainer – at 32 now the oldest swinger in town – facing Nadal for a place in the men’s final on Sunday.


YOU may have seen Venus Williams jumping for joy after reaching another Wimbledon final against her sister Serena.
The defending champion was delighted that the all-American sister act had won through the draw to make Saturday’s showpiece.
But her mood changed when someone asked her a question which has followed Venus and Serena around for years.
In fact it’s so old, it deserves a place in the Natural History Museum.
Yes, you guessed it – the potential for the two sisters to decide in advance who would lift the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday.
Four-times champion Venus defeated No 5 seed Elena Dementieva 6-1 7-6 to reach her seventh Wimbledon final.
Later asked about the outcome of that clash, Dementieva said: “For sure it’s going to be a family decision.”
Most observers believed her reply reflected the Russian’s grasp of English, rather than any attempt to imply the final would be fixed.


MURRAYMANIA may be over but there’s still plenty of excitement left at Wimbledon 2008.
Not to mention the prospect of almost certainly two more of Rafa Nadal’s highly entertaining press conferences.
Last night the charmer from Majorca was asked what the score would be if the Nadal of last year played the Nadal of 2008.
With the usual puzzled look he gives when trying to translate some of the more bizarre questions served up here, the No 2 seed paused for reflection.
Then, quick as his flashes of brilliance on court, he volleyed back smiling: “I think I gonna win right now.”
Cue outbreak of laughter in the room as Rafa hit yet another winner.
The Real Madrid supporter was also asked what he thought about the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo going to his club.
“I don’t know what can I think,” he replied in his sing-song English with a Spanish accent.


SPANISH matador Rafael Nadal crushed Andy Murray’s Wimbledon dream in a relentless display of brilliance tonight.
The No 2 seed swept through to the semi-finals against the shattered Scot who could not produce a second dramatic comeback within 48 hours.
Murray walked into the interview room a short while ago – and vowed to return next year a better player in his quest for the men’s singles title.
“This was definitely the best Wimbledon I’ve had so far,” he told us.
“I’m sure next year I’ll be able to do even better.
“It’s been a positive tournament for me. I can improve so many things in my game – pretty much every part of my game.
“It’s up to me I make sure I go and do that.”
There was hardly an empty seat to be found on Centre Court as Murray walked out at 6.04pm.
Rafa, being Rafa, finally emerged from the locker room several paces behind.


IT was all too familiar. Tim Henman crashed out of Wimbledon on men’s quarter finals day.
Not that Tiger Tim was anywhere near a racket at the time.
A virus picked up in the BBC TV commentary box left him close to losing his voice.
Which is a bit of a problem if you’ve been hired to talk to millions of viewers.
Sue Barker, bless her, thought it was hilarious.
As did a disgusted John McEnroe, who gatecrashed the BBC studio during a rain delay while Tim was trying to explain all about his sore throat.
“What’s going on? C’mon, it’s commentating,” remonstrated Mac, who had kept Tim quiet for the best part of eight days.
“I just couldn’t believe it – sorry to interrupt.”


THE covers were taken off as usual early this morning. And then they went back on.
At the time of typing this, they’ve just been removed again ahead of a fabulous Centre Court schedule starting at 1pm.
But if the weather forecast is correct, Andy Murray may need that flag to shelter under this afternoon.
The Met Office tell us there will be “heavier bursts” of rain between noon and 3pm before the rain clears by 4pm.
That will be followed by “some good bright and even sunny spells” with the risk of an isolated shower after 7pm.
At best, the weather office say we may only lose a few hours of tennis today.
Tomorrow afternoon there is a 60 per cent risk of showers, some leading to large amounts of rain falling in a very short time.
More worryingly, there is a danger the weekend may be a washout – leavng open the possibility of play next Monday.
Andy faces the biggest match of his life today, and possibly tomorrow, aiming to cause a major Wimbledon upset.


SOARING temperatures at Wimbledon today on women’s quarter finals day.
But there was nothing to match the excitement of Andy Murray’s transformation into the Prince of Darkness last night.
Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn duly bowed out, as defending champion Venus Williams scorched her way into the semi finals.
The 31-year-old veteran, nicknamed Tammy, won many friends here, both with her smile and a refreshing honesty.
Asked before the match for her thoughts on Venus, she replied: “I play her many times and she kick my butt. I feel very short in the locker room.”
Even so, Tammy made her taller opponent fight for almost an hour before conceding the first set 6-4.
Another 39 minutes elapsed until Venus secured the second 6-3.


WIMBLEDON is still buzzing after Andy Murray’s breathtaking win last night.
Mighty Murray agreed it was the match of his life.
And as reported in last night’s blog, he told us he could go all the way to create history as the first British winner of the men’s singles since Stockport’s Fred Perry in 1936.
There were plenty of smiles from Murray at that late night press conference, especially over the moment he flexed his biceps.
They’re not quite in the same league as Rafael Nadal’s muscles and the No 2 seed is favourite to dash all our hopes tomorrow.
But with the Murray v Nadal clash possibly second on a packed Centre Court, who knows what might happen?
None of the media at the All England Club knew last night.