It all felt more like a theater than a sports venue, thanks to the surroundings and the momentum shifts. Wawrinka came out playing superbly, then things swung in Murray's favor. With the local favorite seemingly in control, Wawrinka stole the fourth set. And in the fifth, which began at 9:56 p.m., Murray raced to a 3-0 lead, before Wawrinka took the next three games. Then Murray closed with a three-game run.

Sounds echoed with the roof closed on Centre Court, which originally was constructed in 1922. All those shouts of "Come on, Andy!" from all of those spectators waving Union Jacks and Scottish flags reverberated around the arena as hundreds of other people watched on a TV screen set up outdoors.

"At the end, it was probably the noisiest crowd I've ever played in front of," Murray said. "It definitely sounds and feels much louder under the roof."

Even Wawrinka was able to appreciate the setting, if not the result.

"I enjoy a lot the match," Wawrinka said. "But for sure, I'm very sad after the match."

Wimbledon glance

Stat of the day: 10:39 p.m. — The time Murray's five-set victory over Wawrinka finished, more than an hour later than anyone ever had played on Centre Court.

Quote of the day: "They have a pretty good little weather system forecast thingy down in the magic little office down there. ... If you have a roof, I think you use it. Otherwise, you're waiting around, and what's the roof for?" — Roddick, asked whether the Centre Court roof was closed unnecessarily Monday.

On court today: Safina vs. Lisicki, Serena Williams vs. Azarenka, Venus Williams vs. Radwanska, Dementieva vs. Schiavone in the women's quarterfinals.

TV: ESPN2, 5-8 a.m. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; NBC, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.