Wimbledon's new Centre Court roof

A security guard looks out across Centre Court as the new roof is seen in a closed position during the Wimbledon Media Day at the All England Tennis Club, London. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

Workmen walk along in the rafters of the new roof on Centre Court on view to the media for the first time at the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon. The roof will be used during bad weather at the 2009 Wimbledon grass court tennis championships. it will make the court fully air conditioned and will allow play to continue during the event Photograph: Anthony Devlin/AP

The Centre Court roof in its closed position during the Wimbledon media day at the All England Tennis Club, London Photograph: Rebecca Mckevitt/PA

Tennis fans sit in the drizzling rain as they wait for Tim Henman to arrive on Centre Court at Wimbledon with top seed Lleyton Hewitt from Australia for their semi-final encounter in 2003. Rain forced the players off after their five minute warm-up, without playing a single point Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Dark rain clouds as Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a return shot during the men's singles Final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland, Wimbledon 2008 Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Ground staff run on with covers as rain delays the start of play at Wimbledon in 2004 Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Spectators shelter under umbrellas as rain stops the Serena Williams match on Centre Court in 2008 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Sir Cliff Richard leads the community singing on Centre Court after rain stopped play, in 1996 Photograph: Adam Butler/PA

Spectators looking at illustrations of the new centre court roof as they shelter from the rain in 2007 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Tim Henman looks to the referee as his match on Centre Court with Carlos Moya is called off due to bad light at 9.17 in 2007 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Determined tennis fans wait in the rain on Centre Court in 2007 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

A torrential downpour on the steps of Centre Court at Wimbledon stops play in 1985 Photograph: Getty Images

Serena Williams and Jie Zheng prepare to leave the court as the covers are brought on as the rain starts to fall at Wimbledon 2008 Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

The covers are pulled off of Centre Court after a passing rain shower briefly disrupted play during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in 2004 Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP

Preparations on centre court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon in 2007 before construction on the roof began Photograph: Graeme Robertson

The Centre Court roof in its closed position during the Wimbledon Media Day at the All England Tennis Club, London Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA