• AEGON International

Rain threatens to ruin players' Wimbledon preparations

Heavy rain wiped out the schedule at Eastbourne on Friday © PA Photos

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Heavy rain on Friday played havoc with the schedule at the AEGON International and put players' Wimbledon preparations in jeopardy.

With the grass-court slam starting on Monday, the event is scheduled to finish on Saturday to allow players time to travel to London and get in some practice at the All England Club.

But with the men's and women's semi-finalists yet to make it onto the court, the players face having to play both the semi-finals and final in one day.

And with the likes of Sam Stosur and Petra Kvitova still in the draw at Devonshire Park, they will be keen to get proceedings done and dusted.

Fifth seed Kvitova is due to face Daniela Hantuchova in the first of the women's semi-finals, while Stosur, who came from behind to beat top seed Vera Zvonareva on Thursday, takes on former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli.

Janko Tipsarevic, who had to play two matches on Thursday, is the lone seed remaining in the men's draw. Tipsarevic is drawn to face Japan's Kei Nishikori, while Andreas Seppi and Igor Kunitsyn go head-to-head in the second semi-final.

Meanwhile at the UNICEF Open in the Netherlands, Jelena Dokic remains on course for a second title of the year after Italy's Romina Oprandi gifted her a place in Saturday's final. Dokic was a set and a break to the good when the Italian retired with a wrist injury. Dokic will face another Italian in the final after Roberta Vinci beat Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 6-1.

In the men's final, Dimitry Tursunov will take on Ivan Dodig after the pair won their respective semi-finals against Xavier Malisse and Marcos Baghdatis.

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