Rain frustrates Federer and Clijsters

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) Wimbledon today endured its soggiest start since 1991 with no matches completed on the first day of the grasscourt grand slam because of rain.

Only 35 minutes of play took place before the weather stalled triple defending champion Roger Federer's bid to break Bjorn Borg's professional era record of 41 grasscourt wins in a row.

The Swiss top seed led Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 1-2 when rain brought the covers on to Centre Court at 1245 GMT and the players did not return.

On court one women's second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium was due to serve for the first set against Russian Vera Zvonareva at 5-4 when the rain intervened.

Switzerland's Martina Hingis made a good start in her first match at the All England Club since 2001.

The 1997 champion took the first set against Ukrainian Olga Savchuk 6-2 before the weather halted her match on court two.

With less than one hour's play having taken place, organisers were obliged to refund the full face value of tickets for the day's play.

It marked the wettest start to the event since 1991 when no play took place on the first day of the tournament.

Tomorrow's forecast is for a cloudy start followed by sunny spells with scattered heavy showers predicted from late afternoon onwards. Better weather is forecast for the second half of the week.

Reuters SK VP0032