WIMBLEDON, England — Having once refused to play at Wimbledon because of its stodgy traditions, Andre Agassi will get a unique look at perhaps
the biggest change ever to come to the All England Club. Agassi will become one of the first players to see the Centre Court’s retractable roof close over his head on Sunday, before teaming with wife Steffi Graf in a mixed doubles match against Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters for a televised inauguration of the new structure. The roof, which is meant to prevent the long rain delays that often plague the Grand Slam tournament, means that some matches at this year’s tournament will essentially be played indoors for the first time. The move to modernize is a welcome sight for Agassi, who boycotted the traditionalist event for three years after his debut in 1987, when he was a brash teenager known for his long hair and colorful outfits. He returned in 1991 — wearing traditional all-white clothes — and won his first Grand Slam title here the next year. “Sometimes it’s hard to fully accept change in some respects,” Agassi said at a news conference Saturday. “It’s an exciting change, it’s an asset for fans and for players. I’m anxious to get out there and experience it myself.” He recalled the first-round match in 1991 that he played against Grant Connell, which was scheduled for Monday but started on Thursday and did not finish until Saturday because of rain.
“I felt like rain delays were pretty exhausting for me,” Agassi said. “I found it a difficult balance. I had a lot of nervous energy I found it difficult to deal with.”