High atop the outer south wall of Centre Court at Wimbledon, tucked away amidst the lush, green ivy, lies a discreet digital number. This number goes unnoticed by most of the 42,000 spectators who enter the grounds each day of the tournament. Acting as a signal system, this number ranges from 1 to 8 and is issued by Wimbledon’s own crack meteorology department. It alerts the tarpaulin crews to either stay on standby or to take immediate action. A “1” signifies the possibility of showers, while a “2” grants the chair umpire the discretion to halt the match. When rain descended upon rain-soaked Wimbledon last Saturday, the number clicked from “3” to “4”.
Richard “Winston” Sedgwick, positioned on the last row of Court No. 3, had a clear view across to the digital beacon on Centre Court. He swiftly relayed the information to the crews using a simple hand signal. In response, a team of six members sprang into action. In just one minute, they unraveled an 8,000-square-foot tarpaulin and placed it over the court. Their captains bellowed instructions heard throughout the grounds, reminiscent of rowing teams. The pressure to execute the task flawlessly was immense. Sedgwick emphasized the importance of their work, noting that failure to properly cover the courts would result in the cancellation of matches.
The covering crews play a vital role at Wimbledon, their swift and precise actions protect the delicate grass, allowing tennis to proceed on each of the 18 courts. This is especially critical at an event known for its rainy weather. The physical demands of the job, particularly during days with intermittent showers, take a toll on the crews. After repeatedly handling the tarps throughout the day, they are left exhausted by evening.
George Spring, Wimbledon’s court services manager, oversees the entire process. His wife, Louise, is responsible for recruiting the several dozen university students who make up the crews. A total of 200 people work on the court services crews throughout the two-week tournament. They undergo four days of training prior to the event, including practical sessions on the court. This training ensures that their movements are well-coordinated when it comes time to perform their intricate routine. Just like a sports team, Spring highlights the importance of having strong leadership and teamwork for a successful operation.
This year’s Wimbledon has experienced rain disruptions on five out of the first six days, causing havoc with the schedule. Players have been forced to compete on consecutive days, which is not the norm for a two-week event like Wimbledon. In the first six days alone, 96 matches were suspended. Doubles teams struggled to even begin their matches. This is not the rainiest Wimbledon on record, however. Spring recalls the 2007 edition, where not a single day passed without the covers being pulled onto the courts.
While Centre Court and No. 1 Court have retractable roofs, the larger tarps are still deployed as the roofs close. A team of 20 people handles these tarps for the show courts, compared to the six members on the outer courts. The court services crews begin their work at 7:30 a.m. and continue until around 10:30 p.m. each day. The physical nature of their job, coupled with the fast pace and slippery tarps, occasionally results in minor injuries such as sprained ankles or muscle strains.
Elinor Beazley, a former tennis player from Wales, has been pulling tarps for two years on No. 1 Court. Last year’s predominantly sunny tournament had her wishing for rain just to be part of the action. When the rain finally arrived, Beazley felt an adrenaline rush. She describes the experience as exciting and a performance in front of a large crowd. Upon returning to Arizona, her college teammates longed to witness the world’s best tennis up close and likened the experience to being part of a team.
Aside from handling tarps, the court services crews also assist with various tasks including providing umbrellas, towels, and drinks to players during changeovers. They are even known to fulfill unique requests. From procuring a soft drink that isn’t part of the standard offerings to retrieving specific snacks, the crews are resourceful and accommodating. The primary focus, however, is efficiently covering and uncovering the courts. When the digital beacons flash a “5,” the crew inflates the tarp, forming a dome-like structure. A “6” signals deflation, “7” prompts the uncovering and rolling up of the tarp, and an “8” indicates it is time to prepare the court for play. Colored cords make the process simpler, with purple cords used for unfurling the tarp in the rain and green cords employed for rolling it back up when the skies clear. The nets are set up and the court is dressed within a span of 10 to 15 minutes.
Even at night, the crews diligently cover the courts. On Saturday, incessant rain led to play suspension on all of the outer courts. Once the rain stopped, the crews promptly removed the tarps, only to have to cover the courts again less than an hour later as they were overly efficient in keeping them dry. Spring acknowledges that over the years, there have been a few instances where technical issues caused delays of up to an hour, but never for an entire day. The ability to swiftly cover and uncover the courts has played a significant role in his longevity at Wimbledon, a tournament notorious for its rain.
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