Less than an hour’s play was possible, which meant that all 33,500 fans, plus corporate ticket holders, had to be offered their money back.

But for many of the players, the weather meant the chance for many to turn to their favourite pastime — blogging.

This is the first Wimbledon where players are complementing their performances on the baseline with a diary online.

While they struggle to raise their rankings in the grandslam tournament, many are turning to the web to improve their brand online — denying newspaper reports and updating fans on their movements.

As rain curtailed play on the practice courts and ten matches were cancelled, Andy Murray was “going back to write his blog”, his agent, Patricio Apey, said.

Murray has just set up his own website www.AndyMurray.com. The site includes a “playlist” — not a schedule for forthcoming games but a list of songs on his iPod.

Then there is the blog. In the latest posts, Murray talks of a date with his girlfriend at a musical, of slow service at the restaurant where he ate the previous evening and of how the lavatory in his flat overflowed while he was watching Big Brother.

Where does he find the time to enlighten his fans? “He loves doing it,” Mr Apey said. “He is one of a young generation for whom it is absolutely normal.”

He is not alone in this. Eight months ago the ATP, the governing body in men’s tennis, began recruiting top players to blog on its site. Rafael Nadal attracted the most hits with the backstage tale of his victory in the French Open.

It is an emotional tale, in which the No 2 seed claims to be immensely surprised by his string of victories, hugs family and takes calls from a Spanish prince.

But perhaps the most natural of the ATP bloggers is Dmitry Tursunov, seeded No 28 at Wimbledon.

“I would like to summarise my entire singles match into one sentence: ‘Clay is for girls!’ ” he writes before going on to gossip entertainingly about affairs between players and his “blogging war” with female player Bryanne Stewart — whom he claims seldom takes to the court without her laptop. On tennis fan sites there have been calls for him to take up blogging full-time.

While young players throw themselves into blogging, older members of the men’s and women’s professional tours make do with frequent Q&A sessions.

Tim Henman uses his site to pass on tennis tips and Roger Federer to publicise his charitable foundation, but perhaps the most curious site in the men’s Top 10 is that devoted to Lleyton Hewitt.

There fans can learn, through the practice of numerology, of Hewitt’s special “Plane of Vision — the ability to look ahead, in a way that far transcends what most people would consider to be normal”, and a report on the tennis player’s star sign. Despite these detailed observations, there is no definitive guidance on whether the player is destined to win Wimbledon.

MURRAY'S BLOG

Saturday, June 24 Practised with Jamie Baker. We’ve been friends since we were about 7 and 8. Played terribly — probably should have stayed home. Watched second half of England match — not very entertaining. Argentina v Ivory Coast was good match tho. Got carry-out Pizza Express and watched Big Brother. Listening to Glyn in the diary room was highlight of my day! The guy is so funny.

Sunday, June 25 Went out for dinner in Wimbledon village at Est Est Est. Steak, fries, Caesar salad and bruschetta. Service quite slow but steak was good. Back in time for Big Brother. Glyn wearing suit was hilarious. So funny. Grace is killing me! She keeps saying: “Why is everyone booing me?” Easy. Its because you are so annoying and keep complaining! Toilet in our flat overflowed during BB. Not great timing. Whole of bathroom was flooded and water was coming in to the hall. Think we’ve got a blocked drain!

http://andymurray.com/locker-room/blog/

ONLINE CALLS

Rafael Nadal After victory in the French Open: I gave my speech in Spanish. When in the second sentence I said how great Roger is, people were booing. I didn’t know what it was. I thought maybe something had happened or maybe they misunderstood the translation.

Afterwards we all realised the translator did not say what I said. The crowd thought I was talking about myself. It was just a misunderstanding. I was praising Roger, not myself, and I will always praise Roger because he is a great guy and a great champion

www.atptennis.com/en/blog/nadal.asp

Dmitri Tursunov So ATP has asked me to tone down on exclamation points! Oh really?!?! You don’t like them?! Maybe that’s how I feel! Maybe I feel like putting exclamation points!!! Maybe I just like them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It smells like Bryanne’s hand has been in it. She’s been turning ATP against my exclamation points!!! The only way to battle it is to put more exclamation points!!!! I would like to summarise my entire singles match into one sentence,“Clay is for girls!”

www.atptennis.com/en/blog/tursunov.asp

Bryanne Stewart As a professional athlete, I love going to watch other professional events — not only to enjoy the game, but to be on the other side and view the spectacle as a fan. I like to watch how the athletes gain energy from the crowd and how they love to perform in front of their fans.

www.smashtennis.com/blogs/stewart/index.asp

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