Wimbledon roof

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

Wimbledon roof

Armchair · County player

I count finishing at 11.00 as a night match !

The late play at the Aus Open has been criticised by players, commentators and fans alike.

I don't really see the advantage of having play continuing past eleven, but maybe I'm just missing the point ?

spud · Challenger qualifying

It might as well be used for something now rain has seemed to stop falling for the 2 weeks every year.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Don't bank on the lack of rain continuing!

I think one of the arguments against it is that the grass needs a rest.

indiana · Tennis legend

Unless they can do something about the apparent oppressive atmosphere that seems to seriously slow things down when playing on the grass court under the roof, I would not be in favour of this.

It seems to be quite different as Andy commented last year and I believe Djokovic did this year when they closed the roof to allow his match to finish that day early in the tournament.

At the moment I would just close the roof for rain and possibly to allow normally scheduled matches to finish as per Djoko's.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 05:55:30 PM

Smidster · Challenger level

Think you need to draw the line between having an 'Evening' match and the madness at the Australian Open.

Having a match start at 7pm with a deadline of 11pm is not a bad idea and could be used to allow more people to watch.

On the other hand going into the small hours would not only be very hard to implement due to regulatory reasons but it is not fair on the players involved and puts them at a disadvantage later in the event. And going much later than that you also run into problems (transport) for fans, witness the almost empty stadiums the later it goes, and the total lack of atmosphere it brings.

-- Edited by Smidster on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 06:19:57 PM

spud · Challenger qualifying

Another thing against night matches, is that people probably have work the following day, it definitely starts to quieten down at wimby around 8-8.30.

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

The local council won't license matches past 11pm; at the US and Australian open, the venue isn't in the middle of a residential area.

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

So I take it, that it is a big no from most of you. I think they could work around the council. The tournament in the docklands sometimes went beyond 11pm I think. But then again that may not have been a residental area?

I like the thought that a night match must be played until a conclusion, not interupted by some petty rule at the height of tension

Osomec · Junior player

I take it you are American. Most people in the UK and continental Europe (where it is an hour or two later than it is in the UK at any given time) want to get to bed at a reasonable hour. Also, unlike hard courts, the grass can only be used so much over the course of the tournament, so if the play finished later it would probably have to start later.

Night matches are probably commercially beneficial for the Australian Open because some of the key Asian markets are a few hours behind Australia. Plus they sometimes make convenient breakfast time viewing in Europe, where the value of live coverage would otherwise presumably be minimal, as it runs through the night.

The tournament in Docklands is not in a residential area, and the matches will be starting earlier this year to make it easier for the crowd to get home.

All in all, night matches at Wimbledon just aren't going to happen.

-- Edited by Osomec on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 08:46:36 PM

LadyTigress · County player

No.

Tournaments with separate day and night sessions charge separately for those sessions. When I get a ticket to Tuesday at Wimbledon, I want to go for the entire day from start till finish and just drink in the glorious tennis. No faffing about with two separate tickets, no getting chucked out at the end of the day session only to have to queue all over again for the ruddy night session, and no breaking my bank account by having to pay twice simply to go to an event for a whole day.

steven · Tennis legend

I think playing the last match on Centre to a finish with a cut-off of 1 1 pm is a good compromise. A big difference between Wimbledon and the AO/USO is that public transport runs all night in New York and, I think, in Melbourne too.

If play finishes at 11 pm, you can probably get home of you live in or around London - much later and it would be very difficult for anyone who didn't live within walking distance or drive to Wimbledon, the latter being something that should be discouraged.

thegingerlightbulb · Intermediate Club Player

Osomec wrote:

I take it you are American. Most people in the UK and continental Europe (where it is an hour or two later than it is in the UK at any given time) want to get to bed at a reasonable hour. Also, unlike hard courts, the grass can only be used so much over the course of the tournament, so if the play finished later it would probably have to start later.

Night matches are probably commercially beneficial for the Australian Open because some of the key Asian markets are a few hours behind Australia. Plus they sometimes make convenient breakfast time viewing in Europe, where the value of live coverage would otherwise presumably be minimal, as it runs through the night.

The tournament in Docklands is not in a residential area, and the matches will be starting earlier this year to make it easier for the crowd to get home.

All in all, night matches at Wimbledon just aren't going to happen.

-- Edited by Osomec on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 08:46:36 PM

I don't think I would be on this site if I was American, though I do have a Canadian fiance...

Fair points made and interesting to read. I think I heard John Lloyd suggest it or possibly one of his co commentators, anyway like has been said it probably wont happen anyway because of the council thing etc

gjr · Club Coach

Ah the madness of Australia :)

Been to many a night match (not only on Rod Laver either) at the AO. Andy had a match starting at 7:00pm on MCA this year. Although it didn't last long it was still a great atmosphere.

There are several problems with night matches in Australia on Rod Laver

1. There are 2 matches played and almost always the womens match start first. I think the men kicked up a real fuss this year and got it changed a little.

2. Quite a large part of Rod Laver has loads of corporates for night matches. These people come and have a few beers, watch the womens match and then the first set of the mens and leave. Unless it's a Friday Saturday but still lots leave even then.

3. The day session runs over. On the famous night of the Hewitt, Bahgdatis match Federer played a 5 set marathon against Tipsarovic (or maybe Berdych (I forget)) and the day session ran over longer than normal. It took at least 45 mins for the change over and clean up and then insisted Venus Williams play her match first. I would of loved to have stayed on and been part of history but sat in the sun watching the Federer match had me beat.

Twilight/night matches do create a better atmosphere for sure but is it actually practical for Wimbledon I'm not sure. I think play goes on till about 9:00pm most nights over there in the first week anyways but having one match start at 7:00pm on center court would cause an issue every now and again. Most of the time I think it would work well with not many matches going too far over the 4 hour mark so an 11;00pm finish would be reached on most occasions. But not always.

:)

-- Edited by gjr on Sunday 11th of July 2010 01:29:09 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

I do rather wonder about whether the atmosphere woul,d be so great at Wimbledon for a night match.

I've watched Andy in a night match at the US Open and really enjoyed it and there si something really different. However, like the Aussie Open it is in open air under lights, and I do think there is just something about being in the night air that lends something to the occasion.

At Wimbledon, you'ed essentially be closing the roof and creating an indoor court under lights, no different from if you closed it during the day for rain.

So unless the crowd themselves bring something different to the night match, there is no reason for any better atmosphere.

Maybe insist they have a few drinks beforehand ?