The advancement and enhancement of tennis’s four Grand Slam events can be covered by one word – roofs. Anyone visiting Wimbledon last year to sit in the roofless centre court stands will have realised that big alterations were under way. The original roof will be back this year and, in 2009, the removable court covering will be in place.

The French Open and the US Open are playing catch-up – not just with Wimbledon but with the Australian Open, originally the poor relation among Grand Slams.