Nearly 13 million people tuned in to watch Andy Murray’s epic five-set battle on Centre Court last night after the BBC ripped up their evening schedule to carry the whole of the match on BBC1.

The figure was only half a million fewer than the 13.1 million who watched last year’s final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Last night’s match, between the British No 1 and the Swiss No 2, Stanislas Wawrinka, did not finish until 10.38pm, making it not only the first match played entirely under the new multi-million pound Centre Court roof, but also the latest match ever to be played at the Championships.

The match lasted over an hour longer than last year’s final, which ended just as the light was fading at 9.15pm. The new lights on the show court mean that, in theory, no match will ever have to be rescheduled due to rain or fading light.

An average of 8.6 million people watched the match, although during the final sets after ten o’clock, the numbers peaked at 12.6 million.

It was a tough fight for Murray, the No 2 seed in the tournament, who lost the first set to Wawrinka. He eventually won 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, falling to his knees at the end of the match.

He looked visibly tired by the end of the four-hour epic, and later complained that they had not been given enough warning about whether they would be playing under the Centre Court roof.

“I think in very few sports would coaches and teams be particularly happy if … they don’t know what time they’re going to kick off, what time they are going to start or what conditions are going to be like when they get out there.”

He said the conditions - particularly the humidity inside the enclosed court - hampered his game.

"It is very, very heavy and humid. I know it was hot outside but I was sweating a lot," he said. "Both of us were trying to get white towels from the locker room because our hands were drenched. When I finished, it was like I had been in a bath. It slowed down a lot and I struggled to serve because it wasn't coming off the strings that quickly. It was much heavier.”

He also complained at one point during the match that the grass was “slippy”.

Ian Ritchie, the chief executive of All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), said today that they would look into the temperature and humidity issues caused by closing the roof, but said that the first match under the £80 million roof had been a success. “The alternative was Andy coming back and playing today, so I’m sure he's in a much better situation knowing that and having a day off," he said. "It was very humid for everyone playing outside as well.”

“We’ve got to take each day differently and each match differently. But if it was as successful as last night, I would have to say, quite rightly, that we would do it again.”

Since Murray is traditionally scheduled last on Centre Court, his next match, against the former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain, tomorrow, may too be under cover.

“The mantra is that it’s an outdoor summer event, and we've been blessed with the sunshine, but if the circumstances dictate, that’s what [the roof] is here for,” Ritchie said.