HEAVY rain forced tournament organisers to cancel all matches at the Mildura Grand Tennis International on Wednesday.

The unseasonal conditions saw 16.6mm fall between 9am to 2pm, forcing play to be abandoned and matches rescheduled to Thursday.

“Talking to the groundsman he was quite positive in the morning, but he said once we hit an inch of rain the puddles would start and he’s been spot on,” Mildura Grand Tennis International ITF supervisor Scott Ray said from a wet Mildura Lawn Tennis Club.

Mildura receives heaviest rainfall in 10 months

Ray said he expected the time lost through Wednesday’s wet weather would be made up over the next few days.

“Fortunately it is early in the tournament so we have five days left and we only have about 60 matches to play in five days so it is not that big an issue,” Ray said.

“We can extend the doubles out a little bit – so instead of a Friday final we can play that out on Saturday or Sunday.

“But we also understand the men, in particular, are trying to get to Geelong next week, so we have to be mindful of that.

“It will just mean some of the singles players will have to play a couple of matches in the one day.”

More tennis coverage Ray said while it was disappointing to lose a day’s play, it would not be a major inconvenience to players who remain in the main draw.

“It’s an outdoor sport so they understand these situations – it’s not ideal, but the rules allow for them to play two singles and doubles in a day and the rules also allow us to give them the break they need – a reasonable b...