Court One roof remains in Wimbledon plans

LONDON (AFP) –

A view of Court One at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 26, 2012. Wimbledon officials on Friday confirmed that they are considering a proposal to build a roof on the All England Club’s Court One.

Wimbledon officials on Friday confirmed that they are considering a proposal to build a roof on the All England Club’s Court One.

The success of the roof over Wimbledon’s Centre Court has prompted tournament organisers to look at proposals for covering the second showpiece arena at the grass-court Grand Slam in south-west London.

According to a Daily Mail report on Friday, the plan to add a roof on the 11,500-seat court would be announced publicly as early as next month.

But a club spokesman said on Friday: “Our position has not changed. A roof on Court No 1 remains under consideration but there has been no final decision.”

All England Club chairman Philip Brook, asked 18 months ago about the potential for a roof on Court One, said it would be “a desirable thing” due to the changeable nature of English weather.

Unlike Centre Court, Court One was designed to be roof-ready when it was built in 1997.

That means the associated costs and logistical demands will not be as severe as the huge construction on Centre Court, which was completed in 2009 at an estimated cost of £100 million (117 million euros, $151 million).

The Australian Open has two roofs with a third being built, while French Open chiefs are reportedly keen to follow suit but face logistical issues.

Meanwhile, the US Open has no covered courts even though the tournament has over-run for the last four years due to bad weather.