The wait is over. Rain finally arrived in south west London on Monday and Wimbledon got to show off its multi-million pound Centre Court roof in all its glory.
Never before has the sight of drizzle raised so many cheers as spectators stood up in anticipation when Amelie Mauresmo and Dinara Safina had to run for cover and groundsmen sprinted on to the arena to pull the covers on court for the first time during the two-week championships.
Once that formality was completed, 15,000 pairs of eyes glanced skywards with the sense of wonder that normally overcomes a visitor to the Sistine Chapel.
This may not have been a Michelangelo masterpiece on show but fans nevertheless clicked away with their cameras as the 1,000-tonne concertina structure over Centre Court started unfurling at eight inches a second.
About eight minutes later -- at precisely 16.47 pm local time (1547 GMT) -- the most famous tennis court in the world had become an indoor arena for the first time during competition time in its 87-year existence, complete with a translucent roof and bright floodlights.
The moment when the north and south sections of the roof locked together to block out the grey sky a spontaneous round of applause burst out.
REUTERS
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