This month sees the return of Roland Garros Tournament in Paris. The only major to be played on clay, despite 1 in 3 of every ATP tournament played on the surface. There seems to have always been a divide of players who can play on clay, and those that can’t. Rafael Nadal’s domination of the French Open has shown that there is a real difference in ability on the surface. But what is the history of Clay, why does it exist, and how do you get the better of it?
Despite it being the love of the latin players, it is rumoured that the invention was by an Englishman! William Renshaw was teaching Tennis in Cannes, France in the late 19th Century when the grass courts kept burning and dying. His solution was to take broken clay pots from Vallauris in the South of France and turn them to powder. He would then protect the courts by spreading it on the grass. Courts are no longer actually made of clay as it reacts to strongly with water. Today it is made from ground bricks which still gives it that unique colour. A court at Roland Garros for instance is made of more than two tons of bricks! The composition of a competition court from Paris is now a mixture of a lot of material. From surface to base it is:
Red brick dust: 1 – 2 mm
Crushed white limestone: 6 – 7 cm
Clinker (coal residue): 7 – 8 cm
Crushed gravel: at least 30 cm
– Drain
Clay is very much a unique surface for the effects it has on a game of Tennis is dramatic. There is a lot of factors to take into account when playing on the surface. The ball will travel slower, as well as bounce higher, leading players to retreat further from the baseline. In fact the majority of matches will be played in a semi-circle 5-10 feet behind it. Of course this means they are vulnerable to a drop shot, so a wide array of shots is vital on clay. The nature of the surface means an integral part of playing is sliding. Players will have to slide into a shot and time it to perfection to not only hit the right shot, but compose and prepare for the return. The ball behaves differently too. The granular nature of the surface means the balls bite on the surface, and spin is hugely enhanced. People with heavy top spinning shots will benefit from clay. It is also the only surface which can change in a single match. The sliding and running and bouncing balls will leave permanent changes to the surface and even at somewhere like Roland Garros there will be certainty of an predictable bounce. If clay gets damp the ball will slow even further and bounce higher too, all can take place in the time period of a single match.
Rafel Nadal has undoubtedly stuck his flag in the dirt to claim the King of the Clay title. Though his dominance may be waning his 9 French Open titles, and record run of wins on clay in the Open era means his records will unlikely be matched. He is always going to be a strong contender and front and centre of betting tips. no matter what age or condition. Clay is such a different game and therefore has it’s own specialists who will struggle on other surfaces. Most notably is Juan Ferrero and Gustavo Kuersten. Most of the greats will come from Europe or South America, due to the monopoly Clay courts has there. It is vital if you plan to be a top player to be adept and trained in the art of clay.
Andy Murray for instance did just that and moved to Spain when he was 15, from the indoor courts of the UK to experience just that. His mother Judy coaches how to play on clay and thought the move wise for the development of her son. Not only benefiting for a players clay game, it will also improve your all round game, if you introduce Clay training early on. It’s tendency to produce long rallying improves mental endurance and physical endurance. The shot decisions are particularly important and playing on clay creates a tactical brain instead of relying on finding winning shots. It helps with patience in a match and also protects the body for a season, as the impacts are less than on harder courts.
Clay is one of the most unique aspects of Tennis. Almost a sport within a sport. Without it the calendar would look very different and the range of skills on show, for us to feast our eyes on,would be less. Clay courts are an integral part of the sport and to be the best player in the world you have to be able to win on clay. We will be able to judge who best mastered the red dirt on June the 5th!
