History was made on June 29th when the first match ever to be played under cover took place at the historic Wimbledon tennis tournament in London. The new £100 million retractable, concertina-design roof is made of approximately 5,200 square metres of Gore Tenara architectural fabric. The fabric was selected in part for its ability to let light pass through while offering reliable protection from the elements.

The roof comprises two styles of the fabric, the major part allowing 40% light transmission and some allowing 20%. The two styles are precisely placed to prevent shadows or bright spots on the court.

The ability of Tenara architectural fabric to flex and fold without wear was another critical factor in its selection. The design of the roof, and the ability of the fabric to fold into a relatively compact space for storage, contributed to the addition of 1,200 spectator seats to the stadium. For most of the year, the open roof will be folded into its housing for storage. The characteristics of Tenara ensure that it won’t crack, crease or develop mold and mildew while stored.

The flexibility of the fabric has also enabled the roof to be closed in only ten minutes, eliminating lengthy rain delays of the tournament. The roof will be closed for inclement weather, and an air flow system will ensure a comfortable environment within the stadium.

The retractable roof is built in two sections, one with four bays and the other with five. The fabric was joined using high frequency welding, and is supported by ten steel trusses. Wheels move along tracks to open and close the roof, aided by a series of hydraulic jacks and arms. The roof spans approximately 77 metres across the court, and has a clearance of over 16 metres to accommodate high balls.

Tenara architectural fabric is a fluoropolymer-coated fabric woven from ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene). It employs a patented double-coated technology to provide high light transmission along with the flexibility and drape of fabric. The high-strength ePTFE is unaffected by damaging UV rays, acid rain and other environmental challenges, providing durability that carries a 15-year warranty.

In the first match played under the new roof at Wimbledon, Russian ace Dinara Safina beat Amelie Mauresmo to advance to the quarter finals of the tournament.

Contact: Carole Boisdron, WL Gore.

Tel: +49-89-4612-2216

cboisdro@wlgore.com; http://www.tenarafabric.com/wimbledon.html.