Wimby Roof Closed for First Time

The roof was closed during the match between Amelie Mauresmo and Dinara Safina Monday afternoon. I adore the sound effects the fans made while the roof closed. Same one we inexplicably make every time instant replay is used. For some reason it is so much fun:

Another tradition goes splat… nah, I don’t view the roof on Centre Court as a bad thing, just a practical one. With just one roof, all the other players will still need to practice the ancient art of raindrop dodging that comes into play each fortnight. Many of the people who are bitching about the roof are the same ones who hated the rain delays. Most especially Dick Ebersol, president of NBC Sports. In an interview with Siriuis/XM’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo in January, Ebersol claimed tennis was dead (despite Russo’s confession that he got up at 4 am to watch the Fed/Nadal final in Australia, which took place on the same day as the Super Bowl). Ebersol, whose network has broadcast the French and Wimbledon in declining levels of quality for many years, suggested the “only” thing that made the 08 Wimby final between Fed/Nadal was the added drama of the rain delays…

You cannot be serious! NBC was one of the prime movers in getting this roof built, because they couldn’t stand rain delays interrupting matches and wreaking havoc on their ratings. (I think I speak for all tennis fans when I say, please Dick, free Wimbledon so it can go to a network whose president is proud to broadcast it. Your awful, tape-delayed broadcasts are an insult to the tennis fans and the network’s history with the game. I’m afraid next year NBC President Jeff Zucker will send in Jay Leno to host its coverage)

But I digress. I may get sentimental about rain delays from time to time, but it’s an improvement that was already put to good use today, as Andy Murray completed the first ever night match under the roof, defeating a very game Stan Wawrinka in 5 sets. Interesting to see if non-British players get to finish their matches under the roof or they will be made to finish it out the next day.

Pete Sampras did make a valid point in an interview with ESPN, noting that the roof certainly benefited the top men, who are more likely to be on Centre Court. To the victor goes the spoils…

Posted in: Andy Murray, AO, bad tennis media, News, Safina, Sampras, The Match, wimbledon