The irony is that Dinara Safina's 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Amélie Mauresmo will be among the most memorable matches of Wimbledon 2009. It was historic.

The new Centre Court roof finally closed. The fans flooded, halfway through the match, into the arena - except they did not go to see the tennis. The British attitude to the sport is frequently derided, but it was difficult to defend it against accusations of sexism and jingoism yesterday.

The top seed and world No 1, Safina, was facing a former Wimbledon champion. What an absolute treat - in theory. Those with tickets evidently did not think so.

The arena was three-quarters empty at the start. More than several points were greeted with absolute silence; nobody could even be bothered to rustle a sweet wrapper. This was the first time Safina and Mauresmo had met on grass and it was their first clash at a grand slam since Mauresmo was ranked No 1.

It was supposed to be intriguing and it was. Unlike many women's matches at this Wimbledon this was a tough one to call. The confidence of both veered from low to high and back again and while they were on a level they produced some complex rallies and absorbing games.

But by the start of the second set there were only six people in the Royal Box and Safina was the subject of a half-hearted slow handclap as she queried a decision by the umpire to overrule a line call. It was, perhaps, a predictable lack of sympathy.

The subtext was: “Hurry up love, we want to watch Andy Murray.” But at 4.39pm, suddenly those with Centre Court tickets were very grateful indeed. The arena began filling up. The view of a moving ceiling caused much more of stir than the view of Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion, attempting to upset the odds.

Safina was in control of the second set with a 4-1 lead when play was suspended and so it cannot be argued that the roof changed the course of the match. Mauresmo said that under the roof the ball flew more but Safina noticed little difference.

Indeed, having lost the second set, Mauresmo stormed, under the floodlights, to a 3-0 lead in the third. The acoustics were sharper, the seats all occupied and the vast majority decided they would back the No 17 seed.

In the eighth game of the final set a backhand winner from Mauresmo was greeted with an ear-splitting roar that was in almost comical contrast to the apathy among the spectators earlier in the contest.

It was a pivotal game beyond the sound effects. A double fault from Safina presented Mauresmo with two break points but the Russian calmed her nerves and held to bring the score to four games apiece. It was the cue for Mauresmo to crumble. She lost her serve and Safina was able to serve, successfully, for the match.

Safina's serve is not reliable but regardless of its efficacy it is a thing of beauty. It would make a perfect exhibit for The Museum of Curiosity, the Radio 4 programme that gives kudos to little-known wonders of the world. The remarkable thing is that while Safina serves she looks so completely in a Zen-like state even if her game is falling apart.

The two women have something key in common: Safina is ranked world No 1 without having won a grand-slam tournament, a sensation Mauresmo is all too familiar with, having risen to world No 1 in September 2004.

Mauresmo was also the last No 1 seed to win the women's Wimbledon title and Safina appeared much more confident about mimicking that feat than she has previously in the tournament. The tendinitis in a knee is improving all the time and she sounds much more upbeat. “I played my best to win this match, so I'm really happy,” she said. “I'm feeling pretty good.”