Rain delay hits Wimbledon with play suspended as ball kid slips while rushing to get covers on

Play has been suspended at Wimbledon on the second day of the Championships with rain forcing the covers to come out on the outside courts.

British players Harriet Dart, Jan Choinski, Billy Harris and Paul Jubb were among those competing when the rain came down.

Weather forecasts originally predicted the rain to hold off on Tuesday, but there was a spatter of rain that made the surface slippery.

The rain worsened around midday before the decision was made to suspend play on the outside courts.

The rain stopped play on Tuesday at Wimbledon

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It led to a mad rush from the ball kids to get the nets down and the covers on to try and keep as much rain away as possible.

And one ball kid on Court 15 - where Harris was facing Spaniard Jaume Munar - took a tumble as they ran to get the covers on.

The ball kid was unharmed by the awkward fall and immediately bounced back up to help get the covers on.

The rain appeared to be momentary, however Wimbledon officials took no chances as they delayed play until 1pm at the earliest.

Jubb will be hoping he picks up where he left off when play does eventually get back underway.

He was serving for the second set and needed just two points to take a two-set lead before play was suspended.

Dart was also in a commanding position against qualifier Zhouzuan Bai as she was a set and a break up.

Choinski may have been grateful for the stoppage as he lost the opening set to Luciano Darderi.

Wimbledon delayed play until 1pm at the earliest

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Harris will also need to come from a set down to defeat Munar in what is his first appearance in a main draw of a Grand Slam.

There was originally set to be 11 British players in action on Tuesday across both men's and women's singles.

However, Andy Murray pulled out of his scheduled match against Tomas Machac.

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The ball kids are always quick to get the covers on

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The three-time major champion underwent surgery just last week and didn't feel comfortable enough to compete in the singles draw.

However, he is still set to play in the men's doubles alongside brother Jamie.

The men's doubles gets underway on Thursday with the Murray brothers scheduled to play Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler.

Play was delayed at Wimbledon on Tuesday due to rain.