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from Left field:
Wimbledon raises the roof … whether they needed to or not
Like a man who comes back from the shops with a dirty big power tool and immediately decides the pictures need re-hanging, Wimbledon just couldn't resist putting their expensive new toy to use ... even if it wasn't completely clear they needed it.
A little piece of sporting history was made on Monday as the new roof over Centre Court at Wimbledon was put in place for the first time in a match at the Championships.
Tournament referee Andy Jarrett took the decision to shut the roof while top seed Dinara Safina and former champion Amelie Mauresmo were contesting their match at the famous grasscourt championships and the two sections locked together at 1547 GMT.
It was, to be charitable, a bit drizzly but it certainly didn't look like the rain would continue long. And sure enough, pretty much as soon as the roof went up, it stopped.
Time to get off the grass at Wimbledon?
** Click here for full coverage of Wimbledon 2008 **
Immaculate as the lawns of the All England club may be, their continuing use as a surface for playing tennis is a matter of growing debate.
Clay court players have always hated the way the ball comes off grass so fast and low, and while ordinary mortals can get over a bad bounce and go on to lead normal lives, you sometimes wonder about the pro players.
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The Wall
