Rain, Rain, Go Away: All 26 Rio Tennis Matches Postponed

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rafael Nadal went from being scheduled for a busy-as-can-be Wednesday to a day off at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, thanks to rain that forced postponement of all 26 matches.

And now the 14-time Grand Slam champion will need to play three matches on Thursday, instead — weather permitting, of course.

None of the nine courts at the Rio tennis venue has a roof, so near-constant showers on Day 5 of the sport prevented any competition.

After slowly whittling and juggling the schedule throughout the afternoon and early evening, organizers finally called off everything about 8½ hours after play originally was supposed to begin.

It all creates a logjam of matches in a sport that is meant to wrap up in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. But the schedule does have an extra day built in on Monday in case it ends up being needed.

Nadal, a 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist, originally was slated to play for Spain in the third round of singles against Gilles Simon of France, in the semifinals of men's doubles with Marc Lopez against Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil of Canada, and in the first round of mixed doubles with Garbine Muguruza against Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

That trio of contests was shifted to Thursday's schedule.

Another man who wound up without a match to play Wednesday: 2012 London Games champion Andy Murray, who will take on Fabio Fognini of Italy next.

Both Murray and Nadal are attempting to become the first tennis player to win two singles gold medals.

Thursday's schedule will also include all of the women's quarterfinals: Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber of Germany vs. Johanna Konta of Britain; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine vs. two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic; Madison Keys of the United States vs. Daria Kasatkina of Russia; and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico vs. Laura Siegemund of Germany.

Svitolina stunned No. 1-seeded and defending gold medalist Serena Williams in straight sets Tuesday.

Fans who held tickets for Wednesday's day session can apply for ticket refunds at the Rio Olympics website .

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