Roof closed for first time during play

LONDON (Reuters) - Wimbledon''s new multi-million pound Center Court roof was called upon for the first time on Monday as light rain started to fall during fourth-round action at the All England Club.

Tournament referee Andy Jarrett took the decision to shut the roof while top seed Dinara Safina and former champion Amelie Mauresmo were contesting their match at the famous grasscourt championships and the two sections locked together at 1547GMT.

The roof has not been used fully during play time since the tournament started, although organizers did partially close it by some six feet earlier this week to provide shade from the sun for the great and the good sitting in the Royal Box.

It takes about eight minutes to close the roof while another 20 to 30 minutes are needed for the air management system to regulate humidity before play can resume. This ensures the lush turf does not become slippery and avoids condensation.

The cost of the roof has never been revealed but estimates run as high as 80 million pounds ($132.2 million).

(Reporting by Pritha Sarkar; editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com))