Murray wins in dramatic fashion under the lights at Wimbledon

June 29, 6:42 PMSports Media ExaminerJim Williams

It was only right that the match be called by Dick Enberg America’s voice of Wimbledon doing his 30th straight tournament from the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The ESPN2 crew included Brad Gilbert and Pam Shiver sitting in the dark with over 10,000 fans on what they are now calling “Murray Hill.”

A five set victory by Murray who battled deep into the night as he able to fight off the mighty Swiss star Stanislas Wawrinka in a match that lasted almost four hours.

Enberg was perfect as he closed out the match with a brilliant:”Murray came through this match fighting all the way battling to the Wawrinka for every point. Ah the Brits wouldn’t have it any way. Oh my!”

Radio Wimbledon play by play man Rupert Bell doing a wonderful job of calling the action. He delivered the line of the day when he said:”We started this match while England was having dinner and now as we have our late night hot chocolate as it comes to an end at 10:39p.m. by far the latest a match has ever ended here at SW-19."

The roof was closed for the first time just after 4:30p.m. local time as a brief rain shower blew through the village in Southwest London causing the roof to be closed.

NBC was on the air as Ted Patterson, John McEnroe and Mary Carillo were on hand broadcasting the Dinara Safina- Amelie Mauresmo match. Both McEnroe and Carrillo were on point as they knew they were part of history.

Carillo:”I have been inside before but somehow this is very special. I guess because this is Wimbledon and it has never been done before that is why this is a big deal.But now we will get to see what it like to play at Centre Court for real under the roof. That can't be bad? ”

Her partner McEnroe wondered about the noise level:”I know with the roof closed it is supposed to be loud in here and that must be amazing because it is loud here no matter what. So if the crowd is louder with the roof is closed it is going to be deafening.”

History was made at 5.19pm when Mauresmo struck the first serve under the cover of the new roof.

Patrick McEnroe of ESPN2 told me last week:”The Centre Court is very loud with the roof closed. The sound of the crowd, the ball, and hit of the ball is all louder. The noise just bounces all around the building. The lighting is quite impressive and there is no doubt that primetime matches will be held there on Friday and Saturday nights in the future.”

 
Here is a look at how the roof works.