Light drizzle caused play at Wimbledon to be abandoned at 1735 GMT on Saturday, the second day to be washed out by rain at this year's tournament.

The weather confounded all attempts to get the players on court and organisers have decided that there will be play on the middle Sunday of the tournament for third time in the history of the championships after 1991 and 1997.

It was only the 32nd day completely lost to rain in Wimbledon history and only the fourth time the weather has prevented play on two days or more in the tournament. In 1888 three days were lost with two lost in 1909 and 1997.

Seldom can so little rain have caused such much disruption at Wimbledon and the unlucky spectators on Centre Court made their frustrations clear with bouts of slow hand-clapping every time the covers were removed from the playing surface.

In a cruel twist, play finally looked set to start at around 1725 GMT, but, with the nets up and the ballboys and girls filing onto Centre Court, the rain returned.

Play was disrupted by the weather earlier this week and Wednesday was a complete washout, leaving 22 matches in the third round of the men's and women's singles incomplete.

The All England Club are determined that the tournament should finish on time on Sunday, July 4 and so have decided there should be a third "People's Sunday".