For spectators and television viewers alike, two moments officially marked the start of the 2022 Championships on Day 1.

The first was the arrival of the defending champion Novak Djokovic on Centre Court to open the men’s singles proceedings in his first round match against Soonwoo Kwon from Korea.

The second, five minutes after time allowed for the coin toss and warm-up, was the umpire declaring ‘Play’ from the officiator’s perch, thus signifying the start of competitive action.

In terms of lights, camera, action and fervent anticipation, all eyes will be on… a door and a chair.

Both the new player entrance and updated Centre Court umpire’s chair are symbolic of what’s new at Wimbledon this year.

To coincide with the centenary milestone, Centre Court has received a design refresh and the door from which the players traditionally emerge - previously hidden by a green canvas screen and two redundant camera positions - is now a grander set of double doors that usher the players directly from the clubhouse on to the hallowed green turf underneath the Royal Box via a hinged section of the sight screen.

For their arrival, the doors are fixed open, creating the impression of a magic portal through which the world's most skilled players are transported for public appreciation.

Not for nothing has it been dubbed the ‘central reveal’.

Novak, Iga Swiatek, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and co will now step straight out into the spotlight, rather than take those few interim steps along the old three-foot-wide corridor behind the screen, when they might gather their thoughts or inhale deeply before appearing around the corner to rapturous applause.

Centre Court has been described as the cathedral of tennis and the timelessness of this special place is duly celebrated in its anniversary year, even in these nuts-and-bolts innovations of court fittings.

The new-look Player Entrance has been created using modelling techniques and laser scanning to accurately replicate the detailing designed by architect Stanley Peach for the original Centre Court facade in 1922.

As for the new umpire’s chair, we’re not talking a high-tech, hydraulically powered chair such as those used at the Australian Open, which require the match official to buckle up a seat belt before pressing a button to make the seat rise.

(Nor one with a recliner option after too good a lunch with strawberries and cream, or even an ejector seat to escape an argumentative player intent on making a scene).

That wouldn’t be in keeping with the garden-party spirit of Wimbledon, where the green umpire’s chair has iconic heritage status as well as absolute authority.

The new Centre Court umpire's chair is a sleek structure in green with a gold-hued oak trim.

According to an All England Club official, the chair (which will also be seen on No.1 Court) has been designed to ‘accommodate the required technology and broadcast equipment in a considered and discreet manner whilst detailing a bespoke piece of joinery that encompasses some of the construction details of the original wooden tennis racquets.’

It remains a recognisably traditional, wooden officiator’s seat - the only one among the Grand Slams that continues to rock a vintage look compared to the others' more overtly functional or space-age pieces. 

"It was a challenging design piece to accommodate the operational requirements while maintaining the proportions required for good sightlines, improving the comfort and making it quickly manoeuvrable should there be a rain delay," says a Club official.

"The centenary works in Centre Court presented a great opportunity to improve upon an essential piece of equipment that has changed very little since the earliest models in the 1920s. Hopefully the new design will embrace both our heritage with the technological advances in equipment that modern tennis now demands."

And that includes a dress code of its own. The new umpire's chair's livery comes complete this year with an elegant, gold Centre Court centenary plaque with crossed racket logo.

As for the match officiators themselves? They, too, have a new look courtesy of Ralph Lauren, Official Outfitter of The Championships.

This year the chair umpires will be wearing belted-back sport coats lined with a commemorative signature Wimbledon print, paired with a wide Bengal stripe shirt and either white trousers or a white skirt with pearl buttons.

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Following along from home this year?
You can still experience the classic Wimbledon atmosphere on the Virtual Hill, presented by our Official Partner American Express.