BBC Sporttennis

The Williams sisters arrive for their scheduled doubles match on Wednesday to a scrum of amateur photographers

But despite making a start to their game against Bethanie Mattek and Sania Mirza, rain suspended play at one-game all

The call goes out from the cheery stadium announcer at 1232 BST and the court coverers get to work

It's substance over style for one eager spectator on Centre Court when the heavens open

The rain eventually recedes as Roger Federer entertains Centre Court, taking the first set against Mario Ancic in just 20 minutes

Meanwhile on Court One, Feliciano Lopez takes the upper hand against Marat Safin in the first set before rain halts his progress

But the rain cannot dampen the enthusiasm of Andy Murray's supporters patiently supping their drinks watching the big screen

The new scoreboard keeps the Centre Court crowd updated on the prospect of future play

Play eventually restarts at 1637 BST, but it's the same old story for Croat Ancic, who loses the second set to the defending champion

And Federer lets the Centre Court crowd know who's world number one, booking his place in Friday's semi-finals after defeating Ancic

After losing the first set, former world number one Safin fights back to take the second against Lopez to level matters

The moment the Centre Court has been waiting for arrives as Andy Murray takes on world number two Rafael Nadal in sunshine

But Nadal breaks the Scot's serve in the eighth game before wrapping up the first set 6-4, cue nervous home crowd mutterings

Meanwhile, Safin sets up an enthralling semi-final encounter against Roger Federer with a 3-6 7-5 7-6 6-3 win over Lopez

Nadal has Murray running to all corners of Centre Court, producing an array of breath-taking groundstrokes to take the second set

Andy's mother Judy and girlfriend Kim Sears offer as much assistance as possible, but their efforts have little consequence on their tyro

Another monumental Murray comeback looks unlikely as Nadal continues to push Murray to the limit

Nadal produces his best performance on grass to dispatch Murray 6-3 6-2 6-4 and book a semi-final place on Friday