Semifinals Almost All Wet

Tennis meted out in installments continued at Wimbledon on Friday at a miserly pace. The day’s two men’s semifinals were not completed, forcing the now-familiar pattern of this rainy tournament.

The heavens opened and drenched Centre Court, interrupting the opening match between 13th-seeded Todd Martin and unseeded MaliVai Washington. The two Americans managed to wedge in four sets before play was halted about 7:30 p.m., when officials anticipated yet another rain front.

Martin won the first and third sets, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6); Washington won the second and fourth, 6-4, 6-3.

Wimbledon officials hope that today’s ominous forecast holds off through most of the day, for there is much to get done. The Martin-Washington match will be picked up on Centre Court, followed by the women’s final between Steffi Graf and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

The other semifinal between Jason Stoltenberg of Australia and Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, which never got on court, will be played on Court 1.

That is the officials’ optimistic schedule. Rain has been known to alter schedules. In 1988, the men’s final was played on a Monday, in 1989 both the men’s and women’s finals were on Monday. For the pessimistic, consider that the finals in 1922 were held on the third Wednesday of the fortnight.

On Friday the Martin-Washington match began under hopeful skies, with Martin powering through the opening set.

Washington broke in the fifth game of the second set when Martin double-faulted to lose his serve. Martin was generally serving well: He had 21 aces in the match and only six double faults. Washington had 11 aces and four double faults.

In the third set, Martin broke Washington’s first service game but held that advantage only briefly. Martin was serving for the set at 5-3, but Washington broke. Each held serve from there to bring about a tiebreaker.

Light rain began to fall and the players and officials nervously scanned the skies as play continued. Martin forged a 6-3 advantage but let that slip and needed four set points to gain the set.

As soon as Washington sent a forehand volley to the net to end the set, play was halted for 30 minutes.

The players came back half an hour later and got the fourth set in--Washington won the set with an ace at set point--and more dark clouds enveloped Centre Court.

Four and a half hours later, play was abandoned for the day.