Clay taking its toll on top male players?

Question

Seen lots of players retire this week

Answer 1

Apparently so. Even the greats have been affected by it.

Answer 2

yup.. also women.. top women players are not playing their best this week... many will not play in hamburg and rome next week i think...

Answer 3

Clay is actually easier on the body than hard courts, especially if you know how to slide into your shots.  Grass is the easiest on the body though.

Answer 4

Clay is a great surface for fans, because the matches always have unpredictable craziness.  It is definitely tough on possible strains and pulling a muscle, but hard court is tough on the joints, so ... not sure one is better for the body than another.

Answer 5

It appears to be taking its toll on both, male and female players. I suppose those who have recently retired from their matches or didnt participate in this weeks tourneys, are saving themselves for The French and risking injury. As short as the clay season is, its a major adjustment for these players to get used to the surface and not create an injury as well as dealing with the heat, change of weather etc. We as fans fail to realize the changes these players endure from surface to surface, weather changes, week to week.

Answer 6

Yeah , Roddick and Stepanek.

But maybe they dont want to be injured for the French Open , but when you play on clay you slip and slide and it is easier to get injured .