All You Need to Know About Wimbledon Championships 2021 Roof Rules

Published 06/28/2021, 9:15 AM EDT

The British weather is very notorious. Even during summers, rains are a common feature, and that is sometimes a big issue at Wimbledon Championships 2021. To tackle the rain problem, Wimbledon introduced a retractable roof, first on the Centre Court and then on the No.1 court. But closing the roof at Wimbledon is not as easy as it is in other Grand Slams.

Wimbledon‘s retractable roof is one of the most sophisticated roofs in tennis. It is huge, heavy, and is very much different from its counterparts. When the roof is closed, it is 75 meters wide, 90 meters long, and is 16 meters above the grass court surface.

Article continues below this ad

There 10 cross spans called trusses, and these are split into five each on each side. Each truss weighs around 100 tonnes. Each trusser is connected with a waterproof and translucent fabric called Tenara.

How long does it take to close Wimbledon Championships 2021 roof?

When it rains, the roof closes in 10 minutes; however, the play doesn’t start for the next 25-30 mins. That is because in a closed environment grass-court performs differently because of moisture and condensation. Hence, to replicate the outdoor conditions, hundreds of air conditioners are switched on to remove condensation and moisture, which takes around 25-30 mins.

After the condition is stabilized and resembles the outdoor conditions, players then get a full warm-up again. And once the roof is closed, it will not be opened until the current match finishes. This rule is applicable even if the sun is out and it stops raining.

Article continues below this ad

Because of the fabric Tenara installed on the roof, it is able to bring natural light to the grass. Moreover, when the roof is closed, the LED lights also light up hence fulfilling the requirement for high definition streaming of the Wimbledon Championships. Moreover, the roof also acts as a sunshade to the Royal box that houses the British Royal Family at the Championships.

Article continues below this ad

Wimbledon had to think a lot before constructing the roof in 2009. From the grass to variable conditions, all needed to be perfect and hence their roof is costly and a highly engineered piece of equipment.

“France, Germany or Belgium”: Roger Federer Analyses Euro 2020 Favourites Ahead of Wimbledon Championships 2021

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Bhavishya Mittal is a tennis author for EssentiallySports, who is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Manipal University. A former sports editor for The Manipal Journal, Bhavishya has also worked for The New Indian Express. He has a keen eye for many sports but he is a particularly ardent follower of tennis, with a zest to create riveting articles on the ever-evolving sport.

All You Need to Know About Wimbledon Championships 2021 Roof Rules

How long does it take to close Wimbledon Championships 2021 roof?

Trending

Madrid Open 2024: Dominic Thiem vs Thanasi Kokkinakis; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

‘RIP’ – Heartbroken Brother of John McEnroe Mourns ESPN Legend’s Tragic Death Who Last Tweeted About Coco Gauff

Madrid Open 2024: Sofia Kenin vs Anna Karolína Schmiedlová; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Madrid Open 2024: Peyton Stearns vs Tatjana Maria; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

Carlos Alcaraz Injury: Mutua Madrid Open Plans Delayed Further as the Spaniard’s Title Defense Gets Trickier