LONDON. – Climate change protesters and yet more rain snagged Wimbledon on Wednesday but while security and scheduling headaches intensified for the organizers reigning men’s champion Novak Djokovic moved serenely through to the third round.
Djokovic bagged his 350th Grand Slam victory with a 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-5 defeat of Australia’s Jordan Thompson and women’s top seed Iga Swiatek also cruised into the third round.
But elsewhere the picture was more chaotic as hopes of completing an astonishing 87 singles matches, after Tuesday’s near wash-out, became impossible after heavy rain showers interrupted the early part of the day.
A total of 21 matches were cancelled and by the end of the day, 10 men’s and seven women’s first round matches were either yet to even start or were unfinished.
While Djokovic and Swiatek are sitting comfortably in the third round, the likes of Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the men’s 19th seed, and women’s 16th seed Karolina Muchova are yet to even strike a ball in anger.
On top of the fickle weather, that comes after Britain enjoyed its hottest June on record, the much-anticipated Just Stop Oil protests finally arrived.
Twice on Court 18, activists interrupted play, running on to the court and sprinkling tickertape and, bizarrely, jigsaw puzzle pieces contained in souvenir 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle boxes, over the lush grass.
The first incident occurred during Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov’s victory over Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro while the following match involving Britain’s Katie Boulter and Australian Daria Saville was also briefly halted.
Security staff dealt with both incidents quickly and there was no damage to the court. The Metropolitan Police said three protesters had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
Former semifinalist Dimitrov later said that Wimbledon’s beefed-up security arrangements were adequate.
“Obviously, it’s not pleasant. In the end of the day there is not much you can do. I think everyone in a way did their part as quick as possible,” he told reporters.
“I thought everything was just handled good.”
Djokovic had no such concerns as he maintained his pursuit of a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon title and a 24th Grand Slam singles title to equal the record of Margaret Court.
Next up could be Stan Wawrinka, the man who beat him in the French Open final eight years ago or Argentina’s 29th seed Tomas Etcheverry. Their match was one of the day’s casualties.
Poland’s 22-year-old top seed Swiatek has already won four Grand Slams, but Wimbledon has been complicated up until now.
