Wimbledon organizers to use 100 mn roof to battle wash-out threat

Rafael Nadal will play the opening match in the Centre Court against American Michael Russell.

Wimbledon organizers are likely to use the 100 million pound roof to protect the Centre Court after weather forecasters warned that the tennis championship could be a wash out due to heavy rains in London.

According to The Daily Mail,the maintenance team at the All England Club has been opening and closing the three-year-old roof once a week throughout the year to keep the parts moving.

Led by head groundsman Eddie Seaward,the staff will be on standby,ready to protect the turf in an average time of 30 seconds.

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The roof was used as a sunshade during the past two years.

World No.1 Rafael Nadal will play the opening match in the Centre Court against American Michael Russell on Monday.

Fourth seed Andy Murray will also get a play on the first day of the tournament.

Earlier,some 11mm of rain had drenched London on Friday,where the average total for the entire month of June is 51mm.

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At the moment I would say that its not looking good for the start of Wimbledon with wet and windy weather currently expected for Monday, Helen Chivers,forecaster at the Met Office,had said.

Beyond that for the rest of next week the recent changeable conditions look to continue,with a mixture of sunshine and showers, she had added.