Rain delays hit the ASB Classic on Thursday. Photosport.
If anyone wanted a reminder of the need for a covered court at the ASB Classic, it came again on a frustrating Thursday at the tournament.
After rain had briefly interrupted the night session on Wednesday – which saw the last match finish at midnight, it came back with a vengeance on quarter-finals day. Only one singles match was completed on Thursday – due to persistent precipitation – which means that some players will be forced to play twice on Friday, with three quarter-finals and both semi-finals to be completed.
Top seed Ben Shelton is among those in action, after only one set of his clash with seventh seed Sebastian Baez was finished before heavy rain stopped play for the day. It was a drawn-out process for all involved, including Shelton, who arrived on site at 10.45am and didn’t get on court until just before 7.30pm.
The tennis fortnight has been mostly blessed with fine weather, with the women’s tournament bathed in bright sunshine and barely affected by rain. The first few days of the men’s event were also promising, before the disruptions on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
But Thursday was the most significant yet. The first centre court match, scheduled for 11.30am, eventually started at 12.20pm. Marcos Giron and Luciano Darderi were forced off the court at 1.15pm, before returning around 2.30pm. That segment lasted until 3.50pm, when the heavens opened again.
At times it looked promising – with the courts almost dried before the rain returned. The match was eventually started again at 6.40pm, with Giron wrapping it the third set around 20 minutes later.
There had been discussions about play being moved aside – but that option was taken off the table – as the weather brightened for a time.
The contest between Shelton and Baez lasted just over an hour, in an entertaining first set. The world No 8 was in early trouble – down a break at 0-2 and 30-40 before rallying for 3-3. Shelton then looked to have the ascendency, before giving up a loose break at 5-5, which included a rally where a ball fell out of his pocket and the point had to be replayed.
At 5-6, Shelton saved a set point after one of the rallies of the week but Baez wasn’t to be denied a second time. The rain returned around 8.30pm and organisers pulled the plug around 45 minutes later.
Order of play today
Centre Court - start 11am
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) vs [3] Jakub Mensik (CZE)
Not Before 12pm [1] Ben Shelton (USA) vs [7] Sebastian Baez (ARG) 5-7 1-0
Not Before 1pm After Suitable Rest – Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) or [3] Jakub Mensik (CZE) vs [Q] Eliot Spizzirri (USA) or Fabian Marozsan (HUN)
Followed By After Suitable Rest – [1] Ben Shelton (USA) or [7] Sebastian Baez (ARG) vs [SE] Marcos Giron (USA)
Grandstand – start 11am Inigo Cervantes (ESP) / Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs [2] Francisco Cabral (POR) / Lucas Miedler (AUT)
Followed By Alexander Erler (AUT) / Robert Galloway (USA) vs [WC] Finn Reynolds (NZL) / James Watt (NZL)
Not Before 1pm After Suitable Rest – Theo Arribage (FRA) / Albano Olivetti (FRA) vs Inigo Cervantes (ESP) / Luciano Darderi (ITA) or [2] Francisco Cabral (POR) / Lucas Miedler (AUT)
Followed By [1] Yuki Bhambri (IND) / Andre Goransson (SWE) vs Alexander Erler (AUT) / Robert Galloway (USA) or [WC] Finn Reynolds (NZL) / James Watt (NZL)
Court 1 – start 11am [Q] Eliot Spizzirri (USA) vs Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 45
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.