Wimbledon fans were fuming last night as the screen on Murray’s Mount was switched off just as Andy Murray began his opening match.
Thousands of supporters who didn’t have Centre Court tickets sat on the grassy verge in the Wimbledon tennis complex hoping to see Andy Murray play Spain's Daniel Gimeno-Traver.
But Outraged fans ended up missing thrilling match – played under Centre Court's £100million roof – over health and safety measures.
They began trudging off home as play was suspended on the outside courts.
A Wimbledon spokesman said: "The hill has been closed because of the slippery nature of the grass. It is a health and safety issue. We just can't have people falling off the thing and breaking their ankles."
Fans who headed for the hill to see the match on the screen missed an edge-of-your-seat first-set in which Murray, 24, lost 4-6. But he then went on to win the next three sets 6-3 6-0 6-0.
As furious fans sat at Murray’s Mount, which has previously been knows as “Henman Hill” to watch the screen, which has never been turned off in 20 years, an announcement over the tannoy about the screen was met by chants of "bloody health and safety"
One said: "Wimbledon is the only place in the country we can't watch the game.
"We'd been waiting in the rain for most of the afternoon. What a waste of time."
Andy said later of the fans: "It's disappointing for them, I think. Obviously, yeah, when it rains, you know, there's only one court you can watch.
"But I think there are things you learn from having an indoor court for the first time.
"You know, usually, yeah, there's nothing, no tennis to watch or anything. So I'm sure they'll find a way of changing that in the future. " Andy was watched by girlfriend Kim Sears, 22, sitting in the stands and she was seen mouthing "he's fit" when he took his shirt off between games.
