British wild card Dan Evans set up a third round clash with the 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro on Thursday after defeating the World No. 37 Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.

Andy Murray made a good start in his quest to join Evans, but was held up after winning the first set 6-4 against Nicolas Mahut, the man that beat him here at the same stage last year. Murray and Mahut stood level at 2-2 in the second set when the rest of the day’s play was called off because of rain. Earlier, Lleyton Hewitt rolled back the years by knocking out Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3, and second seed Tomas Berdych was another winner.

On Thursday, play will once again start at the earlier time of 11am, starting with Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs. Edouard Roger-Vasselin. Murray vs. Mahut will then play to a finish before Evans and Del Potro arrive on court.

If they win, both Murray and Tsonga will also be required to play their third round matches on Thursday.

Chris Kermode, Tournament Director of the Aegon Championships, said: “It is always frustrating for tournaments, players and most of all spectators when rain interrupts play so often, but it was a better day of weather than we had feared. The Centre Court crowd enjoyed two good matches and a set of Andy Murray, and Court One ticket-holders saw a great contest between Dan Evans and Jarkko Nieminen. The weather is expected to improve considerably on Thursday and Friday, so we are confident that we will get back on track. Thursday ticket-holders should see extra matches and possibly some of the big names twice, so we are looking forward to a fantastic day of tennis.”

Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych are already scheduled to be in action on finals day. Murray will team up with Tim Henman against Berdych and Ivan Lendl in Rally Against Cancer – an all-star doubles exhibition to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The charity supports The Royal Marsden, the world-leading cancer centre treating British tennis player Ross Hutchins. Donations can be made by going to: