Spectators do like Mondays

Wimbledon is heading for a third week, for the first time since 1992, as the rain continues to fall at SW19.

Club officials will decide later today on the possibility of Monday play, which could be a bonus for spectators.

Last night Wimbledon staff revealed that the tournament was already more than 150 matches behind schedule with more rain on the way.

Tennis fans were angry that they were unable to queue for tickets to watch Tim Henman yesterday, although this will not apply on Monday.

"We have to wait and see what the weather brings," a club spokesman said. "But we are already well behind."

Monday play would boost ailing attendance figures for the Championships - in 1989 3,418 people turned up on the extra day, pushing overall crowd figures through the 400,000 barrier.

Meanwhile, Mark Hillaby was back on duty yesterday nursing a sore head. The groundsman, 27, sprung to fame on Wednesday when, on another rain- interrupted day, he was knocked over as he helped pull the covers over Centre Court.

He slipped and fell during a rain-break in the men's quarter-final match between Pete Sampras and Richard Krajicek, which was completed over 24 hours after it began.

Hillaby was taken to St George's Hospital and was released following an X-ray and examination.

Showing true British grit, he refused a day off and, after a short fitness test, was back on duty yesterday.