Selected comments about playing on clay
« McEnroe wants that players learn how to serve and volley. Canada and Australia think their players have to learn tennis on clay. Good! There is still some hope! »
Richard EVANS 2011
« The most of tournaments take place on hard surfaces and most of Academies have hard courts. It is the reason why the players have problems with their feet and their back. And you can expect more injuries in the future! »
Martina NAVRATILOVA 2009
« Lack of clay courts is the main reason for the unsuccess of the developpement plan of Elite Tennis in Australia »
Paul Mc NAMEE 2008
« After one day on clay, I feel good. After a few hours on hard court I cannot wake up the day after. »
José HIGUERAS 2008
Ilie Nastase 1988
“When 14 years old, young players have to learn how to play from the baseline and there is nothing better than clay courts for that.”
“With an average of 2000 hits per hour the career of a professional lasts 30 % less on hard courts.”
“I have learned a lot by playing tournaments on clay ; this is a surface where you can learn how to build up a strategy and to be constant.”
“If it were up to me, the entire professional circuit would be played on clay.”
Bill Norris physiotherapist of ATP 1999
“This court (clay court) I built it by myself with my players. Pat Cash has been taught tennis on such a court. I am sure on hard court you cannot build up your tennis.”
Arthur ASHE 1983
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Health, Tradition and Culture
Sometimes it is being said that it is important in tennis to have champions on all surfaces. No! This is not true. The champion does not need a specific surface to become a champion. Borg proved it by winning on both grass and clay. If professional tennis was played only on clay, Becker, Edberg and Sampras would also have been ranked number one. They were able to develop an allround game.
Courier, Muster and Kuerten were indeed champions because two thirds of their tournaments were played on hard surfaces.
It is important to respect the tradition and the culture of tennis. The Grand Slam tournaments are different to the past. New York and Melbourne changed surfaces from grass to hard courts without in any way losing their status.
There is no reason why they could not change again …for clay.
Terre Battue 