Roof pledge for Wimbledon

Wimbledon’s top brass today pledged to build a roof over Centre Court once problems with condensation and ventilation are finally overcome.

After a rain-free first seven days of this year’s Championships, the second week has been plagued by weather problems disrupting many high-profile matches.

All England Club officials have already forked out for costly experiments in the USA, to assess the effect a roof would have on grass already under stress from being used for up to eight hours a day.

And now Wimbledon chairman Tim Phillips is expected to further discuss the possibility of renovation at the tennis complex in today’s committee meeting.

He revealed officials will continue work to ‘‘overcome serious obstacles’’ to roofing work.

‘‘In the last decade, we’ve built a new Number One Court, a new media centre and created the hill with the big screen,’’ he said. ‘‘So if it was straightforward to build a roof, we’d already have done it.

‘‘But there are problems with a roof. It doesn’t matter to rugby or football matches if they get condensation or sweating - but it matters a lot on a grass tennis court.

‘‘We’ve done expensive tests in the States, feeding in British summer forecast information. They work out whether condensation would occur - and it would on a considerable number of occasions.

‘‘So what ventilation system would we need in an 80-year-old building? And how would it affect the flight of the ball?

‘‘We are actively trying to overcome serious obstacles. Until we get a really good solution, we’re not going to do it.’’

Phillips also emphasised the need to strike a happy balance between the wishes of fans who queue for hours to gain access to the All England Club and the players who entertain them.

He added, on BBC Radio Five Live’s SportsWeek show: ‘‘We’d need to get planning approval and create a tennis court which provides top-quality play.

‘‘We have an obligation to fans and TV audiences in 170 different countries. But we also have an obligation to players in terms of safety on court.

‘‘We’ll do it if we can solve these problems - which we haven’t managed to yet.’’