One of Wimbledon's enduring traditions will soon be consigned to history. At last, Center Court is getting a roof.
The All England Club Tuesday announced plans for a sliding roof over the arena to bring an end to the rain delays that have become as synonymous with the Grand Slam as strawberries and cream.
PHOTO: AP
Spectators will still have to endure rain delays for several more years, however. The club still needs to get planning permission, work won't start until two years time and the roof won't be in place until 2009.
It's the second well-known custom of the world's most famous tennis tournament to fall -- last year the Club said players wouldn't have to curtsy or bow to the Royal Box.
Rain has always been an obsession at Wimbledon -- the official statistics book even has a year-by-year summary of the weather during the tournament dating back to 1919. Only six tournaments were untouched by rain -- 1908, 1931, 1976, 1977, 1993 and 1995.
Since 1877, rain has completely washed out 30 days of Wimbledon.
Men's doubles matches were reduced from five to three sets in five tournaments to help clear a backlog from rain delays, the last time in 1998.
Wimbledon has been extended 14 times due to rain -- the last in 2001 when Goran Ivanisevic beat Pat Rafter in the men's final on a Monday.
Centre Court was built in 1922 when the grounds were moved to their current Church Road site in southwest London. The original grounds had been built nearby in 1868.
Wimbledon has been investigating installing a roof for years, but had difficulties in finding a solution that wouldn't harm the grass surface which needs the sun, rain and air to help it grow.
Covering Center Court isn't likely to help the tournament as a whole -- the other 19 courts would still be out of use and there are 650 matches to be played during the two weeks of Wimbledon, which takes place this year June 21-July 4.
Some traditions remain however -- Boston ivy weaves its way around Centre Court rather than advertising billboards, players will still wear predominantly white clothing and Tim Henman will be the favorite to be the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
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