Fans roar as roof is closed for first time

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Rhythmic clapping rang out on Centre Court, accompanied by not-so-staid chants of “Roof! Roof! Roof!”

Yes, indoor tennis has arrived at Wimbledon, more than a century after the tournament’s debut.

The new retractable roof over Centre Court was closed for the first time Monday after a light sprinkle halted play during the second set of a match between No. 1-ranked Dinara Safina and 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo.

As luck would have it, by the time the match resumed, the wet weather had disappeared, and action proceeded on other courts around the All England Club without the help of modern technology.

Still, the novelty of it all created quite a buzz. The roof is making its debut this year atop a stadium that opened in the 1920s — and at a tournament that began in the 1870s — and this was the first rain delay of the fortnight after a sunny first week.

“It’s a plus, definitely, for the tournament to be able to play. Of course, we haven’t seen really bad days so far in the tournament,” Mauresmo said after losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. “But I remember a few editions of Wimbledon when we would really have needed a roof. So it’s a good thing.”

The translucent roof allows natural light, in addition to floodlights that were switched on, and, really, the most discernible difference from the stands was the sound: There was an echo, not just when a ball came off a racket with a “thwack!” but also from hand-clapping and line judges’ yells of “out!”

Mauresmo thought the roof changed the playing conditions.

“The ball is flying a little bit more. That’s how I felt. And we both kind of took a little time to adjust,” Mauresmo said. “When the ball is in the air, and when you have the overhead or stuff, it’s very bright.”

Safina lost the first set and was ahead 4-1 in the second when it began drizzling. The court was initially covered with a green tarp, Wimbledon’s timeworn method for waiting for rain to subside so play can resume, before All England Club officials quickly decided to shut the roof.

The sun did reappear, yet the roof remained shut during the next match on Centre Court, between No. 3 Andy Murray and No. 19 Stansislas Wawrinka, because the forecast called for later showers.