| 19:28 |
One thing's for sure. The roof has gone down a treat with both the players and spectators alike. Agassi and Henman have both said the enclosure will only magnify the intensity of a match. Spectators are also enthused.
Bob Watson of Sheffield said: "You could hear the contact with the ball and that struck me."
Anita Clark, also from Sheffield agreed: "We didn't know it was raining. Sometimes air conditioning comes on and everyone is freezing but we were really comfortable."
Janet Heath of Scunthorpe added: "It was fantastic. I think it made the atmosphere better, the acoustics, everything. It didn't spoil it."
Attention now turns to Wimbledon which starts on 22 June.
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| 18:46 |
Tim Henman, Kim Clijsters, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are currently in the press interview room for a post-event press conference. We'll be posting an article on what they said later.
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| 18:22 |
The Agassi husband/wife combo now go up to the box to collect their trophies. Agassi looks on adoringly as Steffi waves to her army of fans.
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| 18:17 |
Henman and Clijsters are in the Royal Box receiving the trophy for their mixed doubles triumph.
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| 18:14 |
It's clear class doesn't just disappear. Steffi said she enjoyed getting back into the groove while practicing over the past two months as she rarely plays tennis anymore.
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| 18:13 |
Steffi admits she couldn't stop smiling during today's celebrations. Despite the initial nerves and the defeat, she said she loved being back on Centre Court ten years after her last visit.
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| 18:11 |
Graf makes another plea to organisers for a wild card. She said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience and didn't want it to end.
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| 18:10 |
Kim says 'Graf still has those legs' during post-match interview with Sue Barker.
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| 18:09 |
Clijsters takes the match 6-4 on her fourth match point after Steffi wildly drives a volley wide.
Despite the defeat nothing can take the smile off Steffi's face. She looks delighted to be back.
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| 18:05 |
Graf comes to within one game of Clijsters after a neat exhange at the net. You can sense the crowd don't want this spectacular match to end.
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| 18:03 |
Graf saves a match point and then gains the advantage at 5-3 with a deft volley.
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| 17:57 |
Clijsters moves ahead for the first time in the match as she breaks Graf's serve after another close game. It's now 4-3 to the Belgian.
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| 17:50 |
Clijsters brings the scoreline level to 3-3. We've got quite a tussle going on here. The crowd are certainly getting value for money today - and no rain interruptions!
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| 17:48 |
Steffi squeals and then takes a breather after a lengthy baseline exchange which ends with the German netting.
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| 17:46 |
Graf's forehand is still a lethal weapon as she fires a bullet past a helpless Clijsters as she approaches the net.
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| 17:40 |
Steffi applauds a sizzling Clijsters backhand down the line.
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| 17:39 |
Clijsters immediately breaks back to bring the scoreline to 2-1.
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| 17:34 |
Graf proves she's still a force to be reckoned with as she moves to a 2-0 lead.
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| 17:32 |
Graf takes a 1-0 lead after a lengthy opening game. If the first game is anything to go by it looks like this will be a great match.
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| 17:27 |
Both players look keen to stay at the back of the court as they slug it out with interesting long rallies.
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| 17:24 |
Steffi won the toss and chose to serve.
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| 17:22 |
Steffi and Kim are warming up. The court is playing beautifully. Steve Redgrave has just been spotted in the crowd. He's always enjoyed a spot of tennis.
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| 17:15 |
Boris says he wants to be invited to play when and if they put another roof on another court at Wimbledon
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| 17:14 |
Sue invites Boris Becker onto the court. He says he's glad that he wasn't invited to play as he would of been put to shame by Tim and Andre.
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| 17:13 |
Tim and Andre are being interviewed by Sue Barker. Both players are giving the roof a big thumbs-up and agree it only adds to the atmosphere. Tim says he's looking forward to hanging up his racquet again and getting back on the golf course.
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| 17:10 |
Agassi throws his arms up in the air after firing a forehand down the line past Henman to win the match 6-4.
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| 17:09 |
Agassi has a third match point after Henman nets a backhand. Henman promptly wipes it out with a sweet volley.
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| 17:09 |
It's now 40-40 on Tim's serve after Agassi thrashes a forehand return long.
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| 17:08 |
Henman saves one match point much to the delight of the crowd.
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| 17:05 |
Tim's being typically wily, choosing shots which are forcing Andre to move around the court a lot - a useful tactic when you're 34 and your opponent is 39. But the American is still able to chase down a lot of what is coming his way and edges 5-4 ahead. Not a service game dropped yet.
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| 16:59 |
Interesting news from Spain, where Roger Federer has beaten Rafa Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Madrid Open. Who's brave enough to bet against yet another rematch on Centre Court on 5 July?
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| 16:55 |
It's 3-2 now and it's very noticeable that the laughs and jokes that dominated the mixed doubles match are few and far between. It's still all very friendly but could it be that these two old pros are taking this seriously?
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| 16:47 |
Andre continues his fine form from the doubles by serving to win the first game. Tim levels but the American's serving looks as solid as ever as he moves into a 2-1 lead.
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| 16:41 |
The two main men are back on court ready for their singles clash. Before they get under way, there's a surprise admission at courtside by Andy Murray, who reveals that he supported Agassi over Henman when he was growing up. Tim gives the crowd his best pained look.
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| 16:26 |
World No. 3 Andy Murray has walked on court to rapturous applause and described the roof as 'beautiful'.
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| 16:24 |
Tim Henman and Andre Agassi are up on Centre Court next.
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| 16:17 |
Kim praises the court and tells Sue Barker there is no problem with the roof. Tim Henman agrees: "Once they close the roof, it is the most fantastic playing conditions, there's no moisture on the court. Andre quips: "My wife is so much better at tennis than Tim's wife."
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| 16:14 |
But it's Kim and Tim that emerge the victors as Andre hits a ball long. The crowd leaps to its feet and the noise is deafening.
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| 16:12 |
Andre Agassi earns the biggest cheer when he reaches what appears to be an impossible ball and curves it into the court. The game couldn't get any closer 5-5 on tie-break.
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| 16:08 |
A double fault by Andre proves costly handing Kim and Tim a 2-1 lead.
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| 16:07 |
The set will now be decided on a tie-break.
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| 16:01 |
Drama unfolds on Centre Court as a a return by Andre hits Kimmy clean in the stomach. He apologises, Steffi pretends to hit her husband over the head and the pair check to see that the Belgian is OK. Kimmy is all smiles but we bet there'll be a bruise on her belly come the morning. In the next game, Andre holds serve and levels the first set at 5-5.
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| 15:54 |
Steffi may not have played since 1999 but she still possesses the flair that made her a champion. The forehand is on fire, the volleys textbook and it earns a well-deserved kiss and cuddle from hubby.
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| 15:43 |
Steffi and Andre hold serve. The women then show the men how it is done by indulging in a forehand-fest. Hitting deep, accurate balls, the men can only watch, hands on hips as the ladies do battle and decide against interfering. The set is now two game apiece.
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| 15:35 |
Henman serves out the first game, which is filled with volley-dominated rallies. A sneaky backhand volley by Kimmy saves the pair a breakpoint, while a netted forehand by Agassi sees the Brit/Belgian duo skip off with the first game.
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| 15:25 |
...still in the warm up and Agassi just hit a serve miles out of court much to the amusement of the crowd. Steffi will be looking for a new partner if he continues at this rate.
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| 15:23 |
It's beginning to spit outside and, for once, we don't mind! Steffi and Andre can't stop smiling as they warm up against Henman and Clijsters.
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| 15:16 |
Our reporters have been chatting to fans around the grounds. Check out the photos at
www.facebook.com/wimbledon
|
| 15:13 |
Centre Court is being dressed in preparation for the mixed doubles encounter, which will be one set.
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| 15:04 |
Even our singing stars can't disobey the Wimbledon rules. Both Katherine and Faryl Smith are wearing flats with their glitzy evening dresses, not heels.
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| 14:55 |
The concert under a concertina is in full swing as Blake, a four-man band who won Album of the Year Award at the Classical BRITs in 2008, take to the podium. The roof might be closed but it takes 20-30 minutes for the air management system to kick in. This ensures the court is bone dry.
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| 14:45 |
The roof is now closing. It takes between eight and nine minutes and the voice of opera singers Katherine Jenkins and Faryl Smith fill the arena.
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| 14:45 |
Five-time champion Roger Federer, has sent a message from Madrid:
So often we wait around, I know that can be fun but after a few days we want to see a match. That's why it's so great to have that opportunity now," he said.
"I am very excited to see how it's going to work. It's nice to see that Wimbledon has a taken a big step in the right direction
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| 14:45 |
Centre Court is packed to the rafters as Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters step on court. Husband and wife duo Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have walked on to the hallowed turf to a standing ovation.
Clijsters, who retired in May 2007, will be returning to the sport competitively at this year's US Open.
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| 14:26 |
The grounds of SW19 are packed with former Wimbledon champions. I've just witnessed Pat Cash handing out sandwiches in the press office and Boris Becker will be watching former title-holders Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi from the Royal Box.
The atmosphere is now buzzing on Centre Court as the crowds settle into the new plush, padded seats. Sue Barker has stepped on court and the BBC is live streaming all the action from a Centre Court celebration.
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| 14:05 |
Centre Court is starting to fill up nicely. In the middle of Centre Court a man is turning around very slowly with holding what looks to be a large pole &ndash he's taking a 360 degree panoramic photograph of Centre Court which we will be putting on the Wimbledon Website next week.
|
| 13:58 |
Matthias has asked what the running order is today. Well, at 2:30pm we will have some on-court interviews, before the roof closes. Faryl Smith, Blake and Katherine Jenkins will be entertaining the crowd with a selection of songs. At 3pm we will have a mixed doubles match, followed by Agassi v Henman and finally Graf v Clijsters.
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| 13:14 |
Two people who will have more interest than most in the new Centre Court roof can't be here today for a very good reason - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are contesting the final of the Madrid Open.
But Roger has told journalists at that tournament that he has his own reliable source for info on all things SW19-related. The five-time Wimbledon champion said: "In Australia, Tim Phillips and I always have tea and talk a little bit.
"He explains how it's going to work with the roof and he asked me what I thought."
|
| 13:02 |
Just had a walk around the grounds. Lovely gentle atmosphere out there with far fewer people than you'd have on a normal matchday.
Even spotted Tim Phillips, the Chairman of the All England Club, walking around looking very relaxed. When I suggested that the atmosphere was just like the middle Sunday at the Championships, he said: "That's a very good description."
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| 12:41 |
Matthias has asked whether the roof would be open if it is a sunny day today. The answer is no – new roof and air management system in front of a capacity crowd of 15,000, while the roof is on.
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| 12:13 |
The sun has come out and the roof is open.
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| 12:02 |
The gates are now open and ticket holders are being allowed in...
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| 09:45 |
There's been rain in the Wimbledon area this morning and the Centre Court roof is currently closed.
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| 09:09 |
Good morning! Today will be the first time we'll see matches under the brand-spanking new Centre Court roof. It promises to be a brilliant day, with husband-and-wife duo Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in action, along with former British no.1 Tim Henman and the recently un-retired Kim Clijsters.
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Useful information
Absolutely fantastic!
Profit Li (Vung Tau, Viet Nam)
11:33:11 (18/05/2009)
Simply fantastic!
Zsombor Talpassy (Budapest, Hungary)
10:54:19 (18/05/2009)
that's so so pity! i couldn't see live on TV. it's long time to watch the performace. oh.my idol is agassi. i don't know when TV broadcast again.
nguyen huu bao ngoc (HCM city, Viet Nam)
09:40:37 (18/05/2009)
I'm so excited about watching Steffi in the court. She's still the best. She's very elegant & still in a good shape.
Yu Yin Liao (Taipei, Taiwan)
06:20:02 (18/05/2009)
Love this tournament and its manicured courts... finally testing the roof for Centre Court! What an exhibition! Congrats...!
César Torres (Córdoba, Argentina)
00:25:13 (18/05/2009)
watched the broadcast today at home on bbc2..what fantastic champions, all of them..what great entertainment..thats what tennis is all about..it was like watching a mini tennis rock concert..lets have more of these events to promote tennis all around the world..dave x
david wesley cooper (manchester, United Kingdom)
22:45:25 (17/05/2009)
Unfortunately I did not get to witness the matches and ceremony, since they were not broadcast in the U.S., but I can only imagine how awesome it was. Andre & Steffi were the best at tennis and public service. ROCK ON!
Christine Theriault (Oregon, U.S.A.)
21:33:02 (17/05/2009)
WONDERFUL! BEAUTIFUL! NICE COURT!!! por fin lo techan!!! NO MORE WATER! NO RAIN!!! YEAH!!!!
Emiliano Flematti (Paraná, Argentina)
21:22:24 (17/05/2009)
It is really great that Agassi, Graf, Clijsters and Henman were playing together today. They should play together more often, in different places. Good tennis needs of talented people like them. In Peru any of them would be very well received, like the stars they are. Andy Roddick was playing in Lima a month ago, for example. !Come soon to Lima, admired Andre, Steffi, Kim and Tim!
Gianmarco Farfán Cerdán (Lima, Peru)
21:21:13 (17/05/2009)
I would really like that Steffi and Andre appear more often on the court for this kind of events.... I really miss them...(:
Koala (Port Macquarie, Australia)
18:25:58 (17/05/2009)
I don't, normally, watch daytime tv but your quite inspired matchings has had me riveted to BBC2. Congratulations, a wonderful afternoon.
Gerald Ramshaw (Weybridge, United Kingdom)
18:17:04 (17/05/2009)
Anyone know what the song was that was playing in the background during the montage at the start of the show?
Jimmy Smith (Manchester, United Kingdom)
18:07:46 (17/05/2009)
Steffi Graff is still my all time fav. You're still look great !
Trong Nguyen (Kitchener . Ontario, Canada)
17:53:32 (17/05/2009)
what was the name of the song the blake band sung during inauguration ?
lijo philip (kerala, India)
17:44:25 (17/05/2009)
it was brother jacquot :) my dear
marc antoine (birtall, United Kingdom)
16:42:58 (17/05/2009)
Why is it that they play the double first instead of vice versa as it usually the fact that organizers schedule the singles first ?
JU JU (Kanton, China)
16:31:28 (17/05/2009)
what was the name of the song that the lady sing during the ceremony?? it was kind of an opera style. thanks for the answer
lionel bob (switzerland, Switzerland)
15:57:52 (17/05/2009)
I'm in Dublin and i cant see it because of message "not broadcasting in your territory". what a dissapointment. hopefully we can see the replay at some point, for all the irish tennis fans.
carl (Dublin, Ireland)
15:57:49 (17/05/2009)
It is so sweet to see those four in their white dresses...But its getting late here in down under and I am getting sleepy as usual... good night...!
Koala (Port Macquarie, Australia)
15:57:10 (17/05/2009)
So so so so disappointed. I looked in the Radio Times instead of on this website. Nothing in the RT to say there were events before 3.30 pm. So I've missed the closing of the roof and everything !!!!
Joyce Hackney (DERBY, United Kingdom)
15:24:54 (17/05/2009)
I wish I could be there today, twice I have had tickets for Wimbledon and both times the days were a "washout" maybe I will try for tickets again next year.
Sheila Shoesmith (Mississauga, Canada)
15:18:13 (17/05/2009)
I just thought about to have some other players for such an opening act. In contrast to those four, who really like each other on or off the court and will blow kisses all around, what about a double featuring McEnroe/Vilas facing of Connors/Nastase which would provide a lot more sporting competitivness and some more brawl and referee agitating and nasty stuff:)..But yeah I understand, everybody wants to have love and peace today for such an event..But truth to be told I am fiery guy..!!!:)
Matthias Höflich (Eidengesäß, United Kingdom)
15:16:33 (17/05/2009)
I am desperately dissapointed..Once in a while I watch football from the fiji, bowling from Hungary or deepseafishing from Canada via the internets but there´s no one providing me something from Wimbledon ??? That can´t be true !!!!
Matthias Höflich (Eidengesäß, United Kingdom)
15:04:43 (17/05/2009)
I just found out, can´t see it..I need help...BBC website just streaming in the UK and star sports channel is switched off, what can I do ??? Why isn´it streamed off the wimbledon website ????
Matthias Höflich (Linsengericht, Germany)
14:33:37 (17/05/2009)
Why is the double match first? Oh Kim, finally!!
Jonas De Keukelaere (Aalter, Belgium)
14:24:00 (17/05/2009)
I have just prepared a strawberry cake with cream to enjoy Andre and Steffi.. What a beautiful sunday that is...:)
Matthias Höflich (Linsengericht, Germany)
14:12:31 (17/05/2009)
I hope I get a chance to see Stefi play I always liked the way she played but all are good
Brian Danielson (Coon Rapids Minnesota, United States)
14:12:31 (17/05/2009)
How is the exact game plan ?..Are they just play the mixed doubles or are singles with Steffi playing Kim and Andre contesting with Tim as well ??? Do they play two sets with a champions tiebreak like at the seniors tour ?
Matthias Höflich (Linsengericht, Germany)
13:36:11 (17/05/2009)
I have seen now the one minute clip from the BBC Website where they showed the Centre Court from above probably from a helicopter and it is really strange to see that white roof in a foremost traditional green coloured wimbledon areal..:) After watching the extended interview with Andre and Steffi and really looking forward to their mixed doubles coverage on the internets...:) I have been three times to Wimbledon in person in the last twenty years and I may consider probably next year to make another return....It was such rememorable trip the last time when I camped almost the whole week on the streets in front of the games to have some nice memory about stuff in the famous queue having the luck to enjoy the champhions in this specific year with NO RAIN at all and enjoying the last matches of Boris Becker in Wimbledon...
Matthias Höflich (Eidengesäß, Germany)
13:20:52 (17/05/2009)
Wish they were playing singles instead!
Mike (Horsham, United Kingdom)
12:59:54 (17/05/2009)
Am lucky enough to have tickets and am really looking forward to watching tennis greats today. Looks like the rain will hold off too!
Charlotte Trotman (Wimbledon, United Kingdom)
12:42:55 (17/05/2009)
Steffi - my all time favourite. Wish I could be there but did not manage to get tickets - I sahll watch on TV. 4 Greats, Steffi, Kim, Andre and our dear TIM ENJOY
Janice Kersey (Wymondham, Norfolk, United Kingdom)
12:38:56 (17/05/2009)
I would really like to know if it would be a nice sunny day in Wimbledon today, would they close the roof for the game anyway or not ?:) Matthias... I follow the championships for many years and I still can´t imagine to have a roof above centre court of Wimbledon SW 19:)
Matthias Höflich (Eidengesäß, Germany)
12:25:18 (17/05/2009)
How good to have a roof over centre court, no more staying up all night hoping for the rain to stop so we in OZ can see some tennis.Have a great day everyone thats lucky enough to be there !!
Nikki Harding (Sydney, Australia)
12:25:06 (17/05/2009)
I'm so looking forward to see the matches under the new roof. I expext everything runs smoothly. Should be great fun to see Andre and Steffi in doubles! Every year I come Wimbledon in since 1987 and buy tickets on the day but couln't get tickets for this event! I shall watch it on BBC 2! Can't wait to see the new roof when the Championships starts! I think the Club has done a fantastic job!
Leo Dijkman (The Haque, Netherlands)
12:13:21 (17/05/2009)
My daughter has just called me and she is on the bus from Wimbledon station! So excited about today to see 4 greats play is a thrill of a lifetime.I'll be watching on the tv and wishing I was there in person.Andre has been our favourite for years.
Paula Pearce (London, United Kingdom)
11:20:18 (17/05/2009)