KEY POINTS:
Spectators, players and officials had a frustrating day as rain prevented any play at the Heineken Open men's tennis tournament here today, but there are no plans to shift matches indoors.
Persistent rain meant play was unable to start as scheduled at 11am and there had been no play at all by late this afternoon.
Players such as fifth seed Dominik Hrbaty, former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, second seed Mario Ancic and New Zealander Dan King-Turner were affected and may face playing two matches in one day at some stage if they continue to progress through the tournament.
With rain forecast again for tomorrow there has been questions about whether any matches would be played indoors at the North Harbour tennis centre but tournament director Graham Pearce said there were no plans to do so at present.
"We are an outdoor tournament. We won't be playing the tournament indoors," he said.
"We have played some matches indoors to clear a logjam but there are no plans to do that."
Pearce said weather had been a problem in the past and would be so again but there was every chance the schedule could be caught up.
"We can start well into the evening, we can play under lights if it is clear.
"It will be a very heavy schedule tomorrow if it clears. Players can play two matches in a day if they have to."
Continued rain, however, could endanger the tournament.
"The final day is Saturday, the back-up day is Sunday," he said.
"If it doesn't finish on Sunday we won't be finishing the tournament."
He said the tournament had insurance policies in place to ensure it wasn't hit hard financially by the weather.
"It will not be as good as if it was fine but it won't be a major disaster."
Pearce said the players didn't enjoy waiting for the weather to clear but were used to it.
"In the US Open the first four days there was rain all day. It's part of being a pro tennis player."
- NZPA
- NZPA
