How long does it take to close the roof on Centre Court at Wimbledon?
Tennis fans have been left frustrated by delays on Centre Court and No1 Court despite their high-tech roofs.
The tradition of rain delays at Wimbledon has continued this year, with heavy showers leading to the suspension of many matches.
Frequent adverse weather conditions have proven to be a source of frustration for many tennis fans over the years, but the introduction of retractable roofs over two courts at Wimbledon has ensured that at least some action continues.
So, which courts at Wimbledon have a roof and how long do they take to close? RadioTimes.com brings you everything you need to know.
Which courts at Wimbledon have a roof?
Only two courts at Wimbledon have retractable roofs to avoid rain stopping play.
The first one is at Centre Court, which was first used in a match at the tournament in 2009 after rain interrupted the match between Dinara Safina and Amelie Mauresmo.
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The second roof over No.1 Court was used for the first time in 2009.
How long does it take to close the roof on Centre Court?
The roof takes about 10 minutes to close, but more time is required to ensure the conditions inside the area are suitable for play, meaning the match often cannot resume immediately.
The break to close the roof takes approximately half an hour.
This has been the case at Wimbledon 2023, with tennis fans left frustrated by delays on Centre Court and No.1 Court despite their high-tech roofs.
After Novak Djokovic’s opening match on Centre Court was delayed for 80 minutes on Monday (3rd July), Wimbledon organisers defended their Centre Court roof policy in a statement and said that player safety was always the priority in such circumstances.
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"Every care is taken by the Championships Referee when checking the courts are fit for play following a rain delay, as player safety is our top priority," the statement said.
"In this instance, Centre Court took longer to dry than anticipated. Furthermore, given indications that the rain was due to stop imminently, the decision was taken to resume play with the roof open.
"The players were regularly updated during this time."
For more Wimbledon features, check out: Wimbledon FAQs, facts and figures | Who has won Wimbledon the most times? | How does Wimbledon Hawk-Eye work?
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