Email
Print
FeedUnder Cover
An invention with local ties keeps the tennis superstars dry at Wimbledon.
(page 1 of 3)
They are the traditions of Wimbledon: manicured lawns, all-white tennis outfits, strawberries, cream—and dodging raindrops. The water arrives in trickles and in torrents, starting and stopping. And it generally wreaked havoc at Wimbledon’s Centre Court, site of the tournament’s most high-profile matches since 1922. 
For two weeks in late June, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club becomes the focal point of the sporting world. On this leafy corner north of London, spectators would squirm under umbrellas as time-challenged broadcasters and the world’s top players coped with rain delays. The epic 2008 showdown between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal started late and slogged through three such delays. Seven hours. Huge momentum swings. The tennis titans traded powerful forehands well past 9 p.m.
Enter W. L. Gore & Associates. Best known for its breathable waterproof outer-wear material, Gore has created the Tenara architectural fabric in the retractable roof that now spans legendary Centre Court. When the skies open up, a flick of a switch sends the roof sliding into place in fewer than 10 minutes. It keeps out the rain but allows natural light to pass through the structure, creating a feeling of watching play in an open-air setting.
Described as a translucent folding concertina, the roof is composed of 56,000 square feet of the Tenara fabric, woven from yarn made of PTFE—more commonly known as Teflon. It’s a base for many other Gore products. When the fully covered stadium closes, floodlights turn on. The new roof debuted last May in a doubles exhibition match featuring Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
“Wimbledon’s requirements were a bull’s-eye for our product,” says West Chester’s Tom Kelmartin, the godfather of Tenara. “We were pretty optimistic about landing the contract, but we may have been blissfully naive. During that exhibition, it rained like crazy. For me, it was very nerve-wracking. The match was televised all over the world. I was searching for leaks, wondering whether folks found it aesthetically pleasing. Afterward, I was incredibly happy and proud.”
The 2009 championships had gone six days played under sunny skies. Then history was made: The roof was pressed into action when the rains came during the match between the world No. 1 player Dinara Safina and rival Amélie Mauresmo. As the roof slid into place, it got a massive cheer from the crowd.
“Rain delays play on your mind, testing your mental resilience,” says former Australian tennis star Pat Cash. The delays would seem to benefit underdogs and older players, killing momentum or allowing time to devise new tactics. Still, sitting indefinitely inside player lounges waiting for the showers or downpours to pass can’t be useful.
Wimbledon is played during the soggiest time of the year. Rain rolls off the Atlantic Ocean, or bubbles up into clouds from warm air on English land, soaking the event since it all began back in the 1870s.
As for the new roof, it takes roughly 10 minutes to fully cover the court, and another 20 minutes for airflow systems to reduce condensation. Lights are designed to replicate a bright summer’s day. When it’s open, the roof’s new aperture is bigger than the old one, enabling more light to flood the court. When closed, even the highest lobs remain in play.
