Sooner or later, Wimbledon’s over-hyped roof will close over Centre Court, satisfying TV audiences worldwide with a live, premier match instead of network time-killing with rain delay replays of last year’s matches, most certainly the Nadal-Federer final, since that’s all we’ll see of the Spaniard over the coming fortnight.

It is possible the roof might not close. London bookies have dropped the odds of sunny weather keeping the roof open during the entirety of the tournament, making it the “great white elephant of sport,” to 6-1 from 10-1. But I wouldn’t bet on it not raining in London until July 6.

While the roof will be hailed by the incessant talking heads, it is just one in a series of bad moves for the pro game, a game that each year caters more and more to the top players, distancing them from the hoi polloi of players outside of the top ten.

A tennis tournament should be equitable in treatment of all players in the draw.  Everyone, from the 104-ranked player in the world to the No. 2 seed with 14 Grand Slams should be treated the same. However, when Roger Federer steps up for his much-anticipated coronation over the next two weeks, he will not have to worry about rain delays due to the roof.  He also will not worry about bad calls since the premier courts all have the laser precise appeal system.  When the roof is closed, he won’t even have to worry about wind or the sun in his eyes.  Same goes for the hometown favorite Andy Murray (who, by the way, is my pick to win) who will almost certainly be slotted on Centre Court. 

For all unseeded players going head to head in early rounds, and even some lower seeds, they’ll be on outer courts subject to rain, wind and bad calls that cannot be appealed because not every court has the appeal system.  They might as well be playing in a different tournament. 

There are hundreds of players in the ATP rankings battling every day, traveling the world for a shot to play in one of the 128 spots in the Wimbledon draw.  When they finally break through to play a Grand Slam, they deserve better than second-class treatment — favoring the elite players with a roof is increasing the already broad gap.

Hopefully, the men’s game will not take the next and much-discussed move, one that the women’s game has already implemented in some tournaments, by allowing coaching during matches.   Who will this help the most?  The elite player, of course, as they are the ones who make the most money and have the most to spend on the best coaches.  Watch the rich get richer.

Everyone in the draw should be treated the same.  The rain should fall on everyone, not just the lower-ranked.

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