Source: Telegraph
Wimbledon has not lost its specialness
I don't know which was more exciting: Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka slugging it out in those long rallies, or Monday night's battle for BBC airtime. As the players notched up two sets each in the first three hours, one by one discreet little pop-ups announced that the old stalwarts of programming were being knocked into the tramlines. First EastEnders moved to BBC2, then Crimewatch, and finally the Ten O'clock News team were sent to kick their heels in the locker room for a full 45 minutes while the final set was played.[LNB]Since, by the end, no fewer than 11.8 million of us were glued to our screens, the first outing of the new, all-weather, any-hours Centre Court roof must be judged a resounding success. And didn't it look thrilling when the camera panned backwards during banana-breaks to show the giant light-box that seemed to have landed, like ET's spaceship, in the dark of London SW19? The biggest drawback was the difficulty of getting my 10 year-old to go to bed. [LNB] Related ArticlesWimbledon 2009: night matches not on agenda despite Andy Murray epicWimbledon 2009: Andy Murray into quarter-finals after five-set Centre Court epicWimbledon 2009: Andy Murray v Stanislas Wawrinka liveWimbledon 2009: BBC denies timing Andy Murrays matches to boost ratingsWimbledon 2009: Andy Murray battles to victory but frustrated by conditions under roofThe roof, and its lights, are the best new developments in British tennis since women emerged from long skirts. But that won't stop those who hate change moaning about the good old days. The sun, the shadows, the wind: if they go, strawberries and Pimm's must surely follow. And, oh, what fun it was flipping channels to Wimbledon every half hour to be greeted with yet another picture of the covers on and rain coming down in stair-rods. [LNB]I shall not miss those melancholy moments when the camera panned over empty seats, Cliff Richard sang, and commentators filibustered about the prospects of the tournament going into a third week. Farewell, too, to all those tedious old cracks about Swimbledon and Wimbleduck, the subtext of which was that this country wallows in its reputation as the home of the stoical loser. [LNB]It was bad enough for Brits to find rain had stopped play just as they hit the after-work sofa, but how much drearier was it for fans on the other side of the world who set their alarms for 3am only to find they could take their cup of tea back to bed? Since the advent of the cover they will be saying "thank you", just as often as the umpire on Monday politely ticked off noisy spectators waving Union flags. [LNB]Vulgar, glitzy, gladiatorial: yes, yes, yes. This is tennis for the time-poor, buzz-craving denizens of the 21st century. So, hooray for CBS and the other networks who put pressure on Wimbledon's organisers to cover over. Those who pay to broadcast the matches to 1.8 billion people in 131 countries aren't the only ones who don't enjoy a fortnight of uncertainty. [LNB]Football fans don't have to tolerate damp teams trailing off the pitch, so why should tennis lovers? It may be tiring for the players, but I would rather watch a great match through to the end. Far better that than the bathos of sitting in the office next day to hear, mid-afternoon, that last night's cliffhanger had been concluded and, guess what, Henman had lost after all. [LNB]But it's just not cricket, mutter those who would rather see the tournament die than evolve. Talking of which, the same forces of commercialism have vastly improved that game, too. With Twenty20 competitions – where the emphasis is on scoring runs rather than killing time – and new drainage systems, cricket has ceased to be a sport only for those who choose to enter a coma. Until a couple of years ago, I had never willingly watched a match, let alone bought a ticket for one. Now I love every last pom-pom-waving, screen-flashing moment. [LNB]Covered matches will inevitably change tennis. A good thing too. After tedious years watching serve-and-volley games packed with all the drama of clay-pigeon shooting, soggy balls are making for slower, longer rallies. And, amplified under cover, the resounding pings that accompany each hit add to the fun. [LNB]Wimbledon has not lost its specialness. No one has suggested swapping the grass for concrete. And for those who really hate uninterrupted play, there are still 18 other courts. There, the diehards can enjoy a great day out, cradling a cup of tea, contemplating their wasted money, waiting for the action to start. [LNB] [LNB]
