Lack of rain is a disappointment

TODAY’S FEATURED MATCHES

None.

BURDEN OF ROOF

Clouds menaced. Skies darkened. Excitement buzzed. Architectural history beckoned. As Andy Murray began to play Viktor Troicki at just after 6 Saturday evening, rain seemed imminent. Clearly the lucky retractable-roof aficionados in attendance finally would see Centre Court’s $140-million roof in action. But these gaudy clouds proved to be faux clouds, deceiving clouds, wimpy clouds, clouds that leaked only droplets as Murray’s three-set win hurried on and many waited for some roofer madness. Murray served it out, people filed out, and they did close the roof for lingering spectators as if to prove that they could. Remember when you were a child, and you waited and waited all week for something, and then you were so disappointed on Saturday because it didn’t rain?

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ENGLISH BREAKFAST

The five-time champion and designer Venus Williams may have introduced an entirely new realm in fashion, that cyclic business that seldom presents anything too novel. She may have forged the idea of taping and bandaging one’s leg as one would do for an injury, but as decorative accessory. This Wimbledon, she has introduced the strap on one leg (her left) while insisting it has no integral purpose, that she has worn it only for “support.” She said, “You know, I was thinking maybe I could, like, totally get a permanent one. So maybe you’ll see me with one that’s not just tape, that’s neoprene and Velcro and all that good stuff.”

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BRITMANIA UPDATE

Somebody thought Murray’s mother, Judy, left during his artful 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Troicki maybe because of some squabble with some fan, but Andy clarified that Judy left to go see her older son, Jamie, play mixed doubles with the No. 1-ranked American Liezel Huber, so Andy reminded the questioner that she “went to watch my brother to show that, you know, it’s not just about me,” and let’s just say that it’s never really dull around here.

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ALSO SATURDAY

Andy Roddick, improving to 22-3 this year in tiebreakers, beat his friend Jurgen Melzer of Austria, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3, on Centre Court to reach the second week for the fifth time in seven years. “Obviously, being able to win cheap points under tense situations with my serve helps,” Roddick said. . . . A fine Wimbledon ended for the Canadian-born Floridian Jesse Levine, the qualifier who went out 5-7, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3, to No. 18-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland but called the whole thing an apex. “Obviously the first-round match with [Marat] Safin was definitely the biggest of my career,” said Levine, 21 . . . Continuing a bit of a renaissance at 28, the 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt tore through Philipp Petzschner of Germany in three sets and awaited a fourth-round match with Radek Stepanek . . . Quietly for a No. 7-ranked player, Gilles Simon of France has marched to the round of 16 against Juan Carlos Ferrero, who withstood Fernando Gonzalez in five sets . . .

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YANKS ABROAD

Jesse Levine’s exit means that from 14 men and nine women remain one man (Andy Roddick) and three women (Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Melanie Oudin).

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STATISTIC OF THE DAY

28 -- the number of games lost thus far in three matches by Andy Roddick’s next opponent, Tomas Berdych, one of only two players in the round of 16 who hasn’t lost a set (Lleyton Hewitt being the other)

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

No. 6 Jelena Jankovic, on the dizziness and “woman problems” she felt during her loss to 17-year-old Melanie Oudin: “It’s not easy being a woman, you know, sometimes.”

-- Chuck Culpepper