LJWorld.com

Wimbledon, England — They played into the night, later than anyone ever had in Wimbledon’s long history, and they played indoors, the first match contested entirely under Centre Court’s new roof.

And at 10:39 p.m. Monday, when No. 3-seeded Andy Murray of Britain finally finished off a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over No. 19 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland to reach the quarterfinals at the All England Club, the partisan fans celebrated their guy’s victory with quite a roar.

“It was pretty special,” said Murray, who dropped to his knees when the match ended, folded his body forward, then stood and swatted a ball straight up so hard it hit the roof.

No man from Britain has won Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, and, like his countrymen, Murray — a 22-year-old from Scotland — is interested in that sort of history, rather than the sort he and Wawrinka made Monday.

Still, these circumstances were rather extraordinary, what with Centre Court’s roof shut, the lights on and a chance to play the match until its rightful conclusion, no matter how late it carried on. That’s never before been the case at Wimbledon, where unlike at the U.S. Open, for example, there never have been lighted courts, and matches often are stopped in progress because of darkness not much beyond 9 p.m.

Indeed, previously, no Centre Court point ever was played later than 9:35 p.m., and no match on any court at the All England Club ever concluded later than 9:49 p.m. — that record had been set by a 2006 encounter that, coincidentally, Wawrinka lost.

And at a tournament that began in 1877, not a single point had been contested indoors until earlier Monday, when a light sprinkle interrupted No. 1-ranked Dinara Safina’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo. After the fifth game of the second set, the translucent roof above the main stadium was closed.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UK wants suit moved

Louisville, Ky. — The University of Kentucky Athletics Association says former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has sued the wrong people and in the wrong place. The athletics association has asked a federal judge in Texas to either dismiss Gillispie’s lawsuit over his firing or move the case to Kentucky.

Holy Cross narrows list

Holy Cross is down to two candidates for its head men’s basketball coaching job, FoxSports.com and ESPN.com have reported. Notre Dame associate head coach Sean Kearney was to have interviewed on Monday, with Pittsburgh associate head coach Tom Herrion reportedly interviewing today. Published reports have indicated Kansas University assistant Joe Dooley was on the original list of candidates.

NBA

Daniels becomes free agent

Indianapolis — The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels. Daniels’ agent, Glenn Schwartzman, told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Monday that the Pacers have indicated that they will not pay the final year of the deal.

Nets to keep Hayes

East Rutherford, N.J. — The New Jersey Nets are picking up the $2.06 million contract option on forward Jarvis Hayes for next season.

Yao could miss season

Houston — Rockets center Yao Ming’s broken left foot could be a “career-threatening” injury.

Dr. Tom Clanton, the Houston Rockets’ team physician, told the Houston Chronicle on Monday that Yao’s injury “has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening.”

Yahoo! Sports first reported the Rockets and Yao’s representatives were concerned the 7-foot-6 All-Star would never play again. Yahoo! Sports quoted “multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses.”

Yao suffered a hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone late in a May 8 playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team said last week the injury hasn’t healed and he was out indefinitely.

Yao played in 77 regular-season games in 2008-09, his most injury-free year since 2004-05, when he played in 80.

BASEBALL

Cards’ Greene heads to DL

St. Louis — St. Louis Cardinals infielder Khalil Greene was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of social anxiety disorder on Monday. Greene is batting .200 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.

Brewers farmhand punished

New York — Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jeremy Jeffress has been suspended for 100 games after his third violation of baseball’s minor-league program for a drug of abuse. A 21-year-old right-hander, Jeffress also was suspended for 50 games on Aug. 30, 2007.

Indians demote Barfield

Cleveland — Infielder Josh Barfield has been optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Cleveland Indians.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Friends remember coach

Parkersburg, Iowa — Thousands of mourners gathered Monday to remember a slain high school football coach as a man of faith who believed in leading by example.

Family, friends and former players packed into a church, community center and parking lot for the funeral for Ed Thomas, the 58-year-old longtime coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School who was gunned down Wednesday in the school weight room.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

N.C. State LB recovering

Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina State linebacker Nate Irving is recovering from surgery after being hurt in a car crash. A WakeMed Trauma Center spokeswoman said Irving was in good condition Monday after surgery Sunday night.

Arkansas boots linebacker

Fayetteville, Ark. — Arkansas linebacker Khiry Battle has been dismissed from the team after a weekend arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.

Texas LB has concussion

Austin, Texas — Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle was treated for a concussion after crashing his car into an Austin apartment building last week while he was either sending or receiving a text message, his attorney said Monday.