Daily Answers

9-across – Wrong call, periodically retracted, is rubbish : OFFAL

10-across – PM about to persist in being workshy, say : MALINGERY

11-across – Getting beaten doing badly in formal attire : GOINGDOWN

12-across – Aussie 14 champ here? : COURT

13-across – Spy cracking lob shot with three players around, a common feature of Wimbledon : WOMBLES

15-across – States herb covers minced meat item : SAUSAGE

17-across – Point won, having received ball supply : ENDOW

18-across – What’s between the players overall : NET

20-across – Guys with no time for relations : AUNTS

22-across – Possible description of 14 ace at a decisive moment : POINTOF

25-across – Servants keeping cold eggs for one player here : MCENROE

26-across – Data about men serving in shade of 14 12 : GREEN

27-across – American sports player is best to put on sports clothing : SHORTSTOP

30-across – It’s from over the pond or marina with ace waves : AMERICANA

31-across – Wall hanging concealed in embarrassment : ARRAS

1-down – Another player, a robotic sort, not extremely cheery : BORG

2-down – Swore a lawman will hold steady : AFFIRMED

3-down – Beginning to serve, drag shot : SLUG

4-down – Poetically add venom to poems no one trashed : EMPOISON

5-down – More than one plain kid utterly rejected : LLANOS

6-down – Faulty account penned by fashionable clergyman : INACCURATE

7-down – Chilean linesman in underground area : NERUDA

8-down – English play around island : EYOT

13-down – A youthful Barker’s serve wide at first : WHELP

14-down – Summertime activity which requires seeding? : LAWNTENNIS

16-down – After a kind of dash, Ms Barker gets result : ENSUE

19-down – Work briefly on examination of part of the head : TEMPORAL

21-down – See 22 : NORETURN

23-down – Refreshment that is ace, including bananas etc : ICETEA

24-down – Trenches so safe when there’s been an upheaval : FOSSAE

26-down – Swagger when changing ends, creating interest : GRAB

28-down – National sporting fixture on the radio : THAI

29-down – US linesman adopting singular position : POSE

7-across – £50 charges to procure exclusive dress for occasion : BALLGOWN

9-across – Setters like Hollywood productions : ASPICS

10-across – Stone axes with no backs : ONYX

11-across – A blow within faction, journalist getting shot : CATAPULTED

12-across – In retro pubs it’s a popular liqueur : PASTIS

14-across – Slip away when queen enters, overcome : VANQUISH

15-across – Pointed window essential in theatre : LANCET

17-across – Strangeness of headless corpse Inspector West finally cracks : ODDITY

20-across – Women’s group storing free skater’s sports gear : WATERSKI

22-across – Jumper of sorts sprinted, covering a good length : RAGLAN

23-across – Disheartened envoy for one misses visual aids : EYEGLASSES

24-across – Outcome of evacuating 50% of underground jail cells? : DUNG

25-across – Indigenous American’s uncle? : PAWNEE

26-across – Those traversing south-west state both uncovered prospects : HORIZONS

1-down – Top-grade partners cutting post one intended to fill on board : MAINSAIL

2-down – Ongoing mutation of viral infection a bad sign? : FLUX

3-down – Those in service favouring church society : FORCES

4-down – Hotel annex in which spectre finally materialised : HAPPENED

5-down – Commending a grand pupil, working right away : APPLAUDING

6-down – Retrieve cards, doubling black suits : ACCESS

8-down – Local agent’s ultimate green housing : NATIVE

13-down – Doctor Ken with antigen for Thomas? : TANKENGINE

16-down – Harry Andersen caught : ENSNARED

18-down – Strong fancy netting required after close of play : YEARNING

19-down – Pretentious school clothing’s in the van : KITSCH

21-down – A New York Yankee clinging to Washington come what may : ANYWAY

22-down – Men stopping to relax here? : RESORT

24-down – Shock announcement of Times : DAZE

1-across – When news is on usually officer listens : ATTENDS

5-across – Check scenery support : SETBACK

10-across – Leave Egypt’s borders around eleven : EXIT

11-across – Xmas missive inspiring old western playwright : NOELCOWARD

12-across – Juliet swung round topless, getting derided : JEERED

13-across – Woman smuggled documents inside for playwright : SHERIDAN

14-across – Fancy Dorothy scoffing beef as standard practice! : ORTHODOXY

16-across – Stainer’s notes held by male alto : HENNA

17-across – Book range in the end but not completely : ATLAS

19-across – Computer’s the way to capture Joe’s tricky display : MAGICSHOW

23-across – After spring, darkness reduced, just about : WELLNIGH

24-across – Tidy jasmine at entrance, clipping what’s choking it : NEATEN

26-across – Cast hated snags, the ones behind the scenes : STAGEHANDS

27-across – Squad leaves at start of Macbeth : TEAM

28-across – One examines canines first after depression : DENTIST

29-across – Stuck in woods, Romeo can’t help giggling : CORPSES

2-down – Demand Yankee auditor’s time of reckoning? : TAXYEAR

3-down – Record trouble with canal — it is vanishing : ENTER

4-down – Stripped duke finished hiding uniform : DENUDED

6-down – Abstain from drug that is cut : ESCHEW

7-down – Bachelor eats with son running round? Such vulgarity! : BAWDINESS

8-down – Almost cut short new hanging : CURTAIN

9-down – Engineer examined such a dramatic device : DEUSEXMACHINA

15-down – One in the pits wears this halo? : HEADLIGHT

18-down – The Stage article about enthralling atmosphere : THEATRE

20-down – Individual is firm about dramatist : IONESCO

21-down – Note Norma perhaps fronting work in 18 : OPERATE

22-down – Hose this GT after it’s overhauled : TIGHTS

25-down – Behave badly in a time-consuming contest : ACTUP

8-across – Loose coins ruin her plans : SHRAPNEL

9-across – 3 vehicle clamped in Kensington Gardens : TONGA

10-across – Perhaps Washington Post journalist took drugs : USED

11-across – Current head of school quits physics, say, about little cash at the beginning : INCIPIENCE

12-across – Trotsky buys pint with old money : LEPTON

14-across – Taste a delicate starter of pâté beforehand : APPETITE

16-across – Scoundrel breaks into song in rural paradise : ARCADIA

18-across – Criminal prepared to kidnap queen : CROOKED

21-across – One running out of clothes? : STREAKER

23-across – During two days US player once ran : DASHED

24-across – Provide excessively favourable conditions down under? : FEATHERBED

26-across – Fellow leaves capital £1,000 pine : LONG

27-across – Choppers — helicopters transport emergency equipment to retiring leaders : TEETH

28-across – Dig out old wine — terrible! It lacks body : EXCAVATE

1-down – Hunter with dreadful curse has to be kept inside : CHASSEUR

2-down – Tough little pieces skinned : HARD

3-down – Keeling over, said to be legless in pub or restaurant : INDIAN

4-down – Very slow girl eats up single calorie : GLACIAL

5-down – How to go from capitals of Spain, Russia, Qatar and Peru. : STOP

6-down – Ideas at home on cooking venison with a bit of thyme : INVENTIONS

7-down – Master race’s talisman : MASCOT

13-down – Dire Straits event has no new time for parodies : TRAVESTIES

15-down – Even Dad’s starting to recede : PAR

17-down – Perhaps 3 in 1,000? : INK

19-down – God wants daughter to protect bird forever : ETERNITY

20-down – Difficulty for retiring opera singer to sack alto : PROBLEM

22-down – Doctor close to pay agreement : TREATY

23-down – Work out 2 ÷ 500 : DEDUCE

25-down – Multiple choice includes repetition : ECHO

26-down – Desire to solve cryptic without thesaurus – finally! : LOVE

1-across – Dad on bass held back music of his youth? : BRITPOP

5-across – Wild flower trail expanded : DOGROSE

9-across – Auditor’s assessment for variety show : REVUE

10-across – Provides commentary for girl leading seaman round gallery : ANNOTATES

11-across – Select a particular song and walk out : TAKETHEAIR

12-across – Swallow or martin consuming other birds’ food? : WORM

14-across – Artwork could make attendant blush, were I to go in : WATERCOLOUR

18-across – Combatant repressing rage left bar, starting ignition : FIRELIGHTER

21-across – Husband roped in to sample traditionally female craft : SHIP

22-across – Tracked down and slaughtered another rat : RANTOEARTH

25-across – Old team showing its age, getting rusty? : OXIDATING

26-across – Little doggies carrying master’s shoes : PUMPS

27-across – Screwed up large stopper to protect drum : EARPLUG

28-across – Flipping annoyed on backing corrupt fighters in ring : TOREROS

1-down – Blast fellow switching sides during contest : BERATE

2-down – Call on president, assuming envoy’s content : INVOKE

3-down – Attractive means of getting a drink, more or less : PRETTYWELL

4-down – Official home for bishop wanting a post : PLACE

5-down – Old three-halfpenny comic incomplete, one part damaged : DANDIPRAT

6-down – One way of getting out as match proceeds : GATE

7-down – Established novelist links up on air : ORTHODOX

8-down – One outcome of simple test for sucker? : EASYMARK

13-down – Troops look cross mounting guard at entrance : DOORKEEPER

15-down – Against harsh assessment of some bedding : TOGRATING

16-down – Not keen on horse trained overseas : OFFSHORE

17-down – Blustery at first with more showers, becoming brighter : BRAINIER

19-down – Shock in city rising after treasurer cleared out : TREMOR

20-down – Asian primate rushes all over the place : RHESUS

23-down – Penny-pinching firm : TIGHT

24-down – Good time for delivery? : BALL