Murray critical of roof after latest ever finish

Andy Murray gave Wimbledon's new roof a cold reception after he had kept his title dream on course with a gutsy five-set performance under the Centre Court lights.

The British number one criticised Wimbledon officials for not giving him enough notice that he would be playing his match against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka under the new Centre Court structure.

And he also moaned about the humidity levels inside Centre Court which he claimed affected his serve during his 2-6 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-3 fourth round victory which saw the match end at 10.38pm with the Wimbledon hill still packed but in total darkness.

The roof had been put to its first competitive use mid-afternoon when showers halted the previous match between Dinara Safin and Amelie Mauresmo.

When Murray took to the court with Wawrinka the weather was dry and Murray said: "It's tough when you're warming up, getting ready for the match outside and it's dry and then get told you're playing under the roof.

"The decision should be made before that match (Safina's) is finished so they can let the players know in a decent amount of time what conditions they are going to be playing under.

"In very few sports would coaches and teams be particularly happy if they don't know exactly what time they're going to kick off or what the conditions are going to be like when they go out there.

"When you haven't experienced something before it is tough to know how it's going to play. There is quite a big difference."

Murray blamed the humid conditions, in particular, for his inability to find any rhythm on his serve.

He said: "We were sweating so much. Both of us were trying to get white towels because your hands were drenched. When I finished it was like I had been in a bath. It slowed things down a lot and I struggled to serve because it wasn't coming off the strings that quickly.

"I like playing indoors but when you have not practised or ever played a match under a roof on grass you don't know what to expect. For two and an half sets I played great tennis, it just took me a while to get used to it."

Murray, however, who now plays Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter final tomorrow, admitted the experience could now be an advantage if he plays under the roof again.

He said: "I know now I have to change my game if I play under the roof and I know the way the court plays."

Murray was intending to rise late today and have a massage and light practice session in the afternoon to try to recover from what was a gruelling encounter.

But he remained confident: "I believe I can win Wimbledon. That's not changed since the first match. But I'm going to have to play great tennis to do it."