Why Clay Courts Are So Challenging

 The surface of a tennis court is one of the most important variables in this sport, as it alters the conditions and the outcome of matches in many ways. In fact, even professional tennis players struggle to adapt and modify their game depending on the surface they're playing on. It's no coincidence that Rafa Nadal is the king of clay, making history as the player with the most Roland Garros wins in history. Therefore, it's essential that every player just starting out in this sport has a very clear understanding of how the surface can alter their game and how to take advantage of each of its characteristics to exploit their strengths and uncover their opponent's weaknesses.

This is because the Mallorcan tennis player manages to take full advantage of clay court conditions to tie his opponents hands with his fierce defense, changes of pace, and powerful attacks. First of all, and before we get into the surfaces, let's review the dimensions a tennis court should have and how to install the net. The tennis court must be 23.78 meters long and 10.97 meters wide, with a space at the back of 3.65 meters, which must extend to 4 meters in international tournaments; and a space at the sides of 6.40 meters or 8 meters in the case of an international tournament.

What Types of Tennis Surfaces Exist?

Image Source: Freepik.com

The net must be 0.914 meters high at the center and 1.07 meters high at the posts that support it; it is suspended by a 0.8-meter-diameter metal cable covered by the white band that commonly hits the ball, creating unpredictable situations. Finally, the net must be 8.23 ​​meters long for singles matches and 10.97 meters for doubles matches. In professional tennis, there are a total of three surfaces on which an ATP or WTA match can be played hard court or cement, clay, and grass. Of course, each of them has its own characteristics and is even more popular in certain regions of the world than others, so we'll tell you everything one by one.

These are the most popular tennis courts for amateurs, as they are the easiest to build and maintain and have the most durable materials. Tennis clubs and academies choose this surface because it provides the most consistent bounces due to its completely flat surface. Two Grand Slam tournaments are played on this surface each year: the Australian Open and the US Open. Hard court tennis courts are the surface of choice in North America, hosting dozens of ATP tournaments on this type of court.

How can I Play Better on Hard Courts?

Image Source: Freepik.com

Furthermore, it is a court that allows for a much faster and more offensive game, so it could be more attractive from a spectacle point of view. Because hard court maintenance is much simpler and cheaper than the previous ones, almost all camps have plenty of them in their facilities. The IMG Academy, the Nike camp in England, and the Exsportise tennis camp primarily use cement courts, where matches and training sessions are held. Players who benefit most from hard courts are those with good power and who aren't prone to long point sequences.

The ball bounces on this surface quickly and high, allowing you to hit winners from any area of ​​the court more easily and with a higher success rate. Also, take advantage of your shot angles and always try to hit the ball when it's at its highest point. This will give you more openness, make your shots harder to reach, and make it harder for your opponent to return them. And of course, make your serve your best ally. A player with a good serve will significantly increase their percentage of points won on their serve on this surface.

Top Stars on Hard Court

Image Source: Freepik.com

The serve-volley combination can be extremely winning if you can close out points close to the net. On the other hand, make sure you have shoes with good cushioning so your ankles and knees don't suffer too much. Since it's a sturdy court, you need your shoes with a hard sole that can give you stability so you can quickly change direction and settle when hitting your shots. So now you know, try to play an aggressive game and rely on the power of your shots to dominate every point, as defensive play isn't as effective on this surface.

The undisputed master of the cement court is Roger Federer, the all time winner on this surface with more than 780 victories. The hard court allowed Federer to take advantage of the precision of his forehand, the power of his backhand, and the lethal power of his volleys. On the other hand, another star we must mention is Novak Djokovic, the king of Australia who has left his mark. As stated earlier, Rafael Nadal's numbers speak for themselves and make him the sole king of clay courts, with his 14 Roland Garros titles to his name.

Conclusion

Image Source: Freepik.com

Polish architect Kotala Krzysztof designed a design for the construction of an underwater tennis complex, designed years ago.

The complex will feature seven concrete tennis courts beneath the waters of the Arabian Sea surrounding Dubai, with a capacity for 10,000 spectators. The total investment for the project is estimated at $2 billion, a true economic barbarity in the Middle East. Rain is the main enemy of tennis on all surfaces, completely changing the game and distorting the competition.

Again, the best known of all is to dry the court with carpets or towels. This means that you will need a lot of hands and work to cover its entire length. When the amount of water is excessive, organizations rely on shovelers, which are like a sponge roller, or directly on machines. Slamobonis, whose name comes from the ice polishers invented by Zamboni, are dragged and squeeze the surface, removing the water into a tray. In other, slightly less orthodox methods, some also choose to set fire to certain areas of the court, as happened at the Casablanca Open in Morocco in 2016.