ERSA Pro Stringer Magazine 4 - 2019 prostringer 4 -2019 web | Page 10

www.ersa-stringers.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
There will be more guaranteed play at this
year's Wimbledon Tennis Championships – thanks
to the completion of a three-year project to cover the famous No. 1 Court at the All England Lawn
Tennis Club (AELTC).
AELTC unveiled a fully-retractable roof on top of the court at the Wimbledon tennis complex this
past weekend.
The roof cost around £70m and will enable more matches to be played for longer if weather condi-
tions turn for the worse during the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament.
Wimbledon has now become the second Grand Slam – alongside the Australian Open – to have
two covered courts, allowing play to continue in bad weather. Wimbledon's Centre Court was cov-
ered with a similar retractable roof in 2009, as part of a major £100m redevelopment.
The roof at No. 1 Court forms part of a larger, £175m redevelopment of the venue, which included
replacing the old stands with wider and more comfortable seating. Capacity has also been in-
creased from 11,500 to 12,400 spectators.
"For the fi rst time in the 142 years since the holding of the fi rst Championships at Wimbledon,
those sitting on the second biggest show court will now be protected from the elements by a pris-
tine, gleaming new roof," a spokesperson for AELTC said.
The No. 1 Court's capacity of 12,345 is now only slightly less than the iconic Centre Court's
15,000.
A star-studded ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the project, featuring the likes of
Paloma Faith and players including Pat Cash, Jamie Murray and Venus Williams.
Tennis anti-corruption: Russian umpire failed
to report 'corrupt approach'
Russian umpire Svetlana Teryaeva has been found guilty by the Tennis Integrity Unit of failing to
report a 'corrupt approach'.
Teryaeva did not co-operate with the person who approached her in June 2017, but did not report
it had happened.
The TIU said a third party "off ered the promise of payment in return for her agreement to manipu-
late scores inputted on her PDA device".
"This would allow gamblers to bet with certainty," it added.
Following an independent hearing, Teryaeva was found to have committed two breaches of the
tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) and a decision "on an appropriate sanction" will be made.
10
ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 4-2019