What type of roof does Centre Court have?

Centre Court has a retractable roof. Wimbledon’s main stadium received the movable roof in 2009, allowing matches to continue through rain and into the evening while preserving the traditional grass-court setting.

The project followed years of weather delays. Construction began after the 2006 Championships, and the old roof over the stands was removed before the 2007 tournament. Wimbledon’s dramatic 2008 men’s final, interrupted by rain and darkness, highlighted the need for better weather protection.

The roof takes about 10 minutes to close, but play can take longer to resume because the stadium must be acclimatised for indoor grass-court conditions. The first competitive match played under it was Amélie Mauresmo versus Dinara Safina in 2009.

A retractable roof is not the same as a permanent glass or fixed roof: it can open during suitable weather and close when rain threatens. Wimbledon’s No. 1 Court later gained its own retractable roof, completed in 2019.