After successfully dodging showers on Thursday, the Opens fell victim on Friday afternoon to heavy and persistent rain with added thunder and lightning. Play was initially only briefly suspended as the main mass of the stormclouds moved out to sea but then they circled round with Southwick directly in their path. The lawns rapidly became inundated and several soon resembled boating ponds. Play was abandoned for the day at 1630 and will resume at 0900 with increased double-banking to bring the event back on schedule.