Wimbledon files complaint on shoddy 2000 construction (Wimbledon Diary)

LONDON - Wimbledon’s Millennium media and player complex, unveiled at the start of the new century, is falling apart due to shoddy workmanship, the All England Club says in a 7.5-million-dollar complaint filed in the High Court.

The club complains that the architects and their subcontractors did not perform up to standard and left a building which is looking shabby and decrepit in spots.

Wimbledon officials have already received a tender from the firm which constructed this year’s new Centre Court roof to make repairs to the building which houses most player and media services at a cost of up to 6.5 million dollars.

Wimbledon’s 45-page complaint charges that the building suffers from condensation in 75 percent of the windows, warped and twisted timber, distorted handrails and daylight visible through timber joints.

In addition, the complaint says that rain enters through warped doors and windows and the complex is beginning to look seedy.

The architects respond that Wimbledon waited too long to make their complaints known.

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Minor Wimbledon swine flu scare abating

The brief swine flu scare at Wimbledon seems to be settling down, with three of the original four balls boys suspected of being ill and sent home now back on court.

But London media report that several other people on staff, including employees from the gift shop, international broadcast centre and catering are now resting at home after exhibiting symptoms.

A spokesman said a total of 28 employees were asked to remain at home for the moment.

Newspapers also report that three minor players, Slovaks Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek and American doubles competitor Travis Parrott, were also believed to have caught the flu after the Slovaks shared a hotel room and Parrott played as doubles partner to Polasek.

All three have since departed the tournament after losing.