Nadal was about to serve at 4-5 in the third set when a downpour forced the world's top two players off Centre Court, at 1550 GMT.

At the time of going to press, rain was still halting play, but looked to resume later.

Meanwhile, Nadal launched a furious attack on sections of the media yesterday after claiming he had been ambushed by the paparazzi when he arrived at a London restaurant.

The Spanish world number two claimed he was stunned to see eight paparazzi waiting for him and his family who had jetted in from Spain for the final.

"I didn't tell anyone I was going out and when I arrived they sort of attacked me.

I don't know if this is the right word, but believe me it was strange," Nadal wrote in his official website.

" I am a person that always works with media, does interviews with them, works closely with them, but I don't find it fair that when I have a few hours free, they persecute me and get those pictures that they sell.

Nampa-AFP

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