Sport

Rain washes out day four of ASB Classic

20:00 pm on 4 January 2018

ASB Classic tennis tournament director Karl Budge says Thursday's wet weather in Auckland reinforces the need for a roof at the Stanley Street venue.

A wet centre court during the ASB Classic Tennis tournament, Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Day four of the event was completely washed out by rain.

The day session matches were cancelled at 5pm and shortly after 7.30pm, with rain still falling, the night session was also canned.

Three quarterfinals were set to be played during the day session, with second seed Julia Goerges up against Polona Hercog, third seed Barbora Strycova taking on Su-Wei Hsieh and fourth seed Agnieska Radwanska facing Sachia Vickery.

The night session quarterfinal was slated to be top seed Caroline Wozniacki against Sofia Kenin.

All four matches have been rescheduled for Friday, with an earlier start time of 10am, when Goerges plays Hercog and Strycova takes on Hsieh.

Earlier this week it was revealed the planned stadium rebuild, which included a retractable roof at the Stanley Street Tennis Centre, has been put on hold due to funding difficulties.

"As soon as these tournaments are over we'll pick up that project again and try and make it a reality but certainly days like today strengthen the argument for a roof when he have those conversations," Budge said.

Play in the second pair of quarterfinals will not begin before 11am.

More rain is forecast for Friday, but not as heavy as that which fell on Thursday.

-RNZ