From Clay to Grass, Wimbledon 2010
The annual schedule for tennis players is packed with grand slams, masters tournaments and other ATP tournaments which help accumulate points for determining their rankings. But it seems as if summer is the busiest and toughest time for them. In a span of just a week, players have to switch their games and strategies and make the fundamental move from the red dirt surface to the lush green lawns. The switch is instantaneous, but the journey very arduous. Looking at the game from the outset, it seems to be quite simple to play on one surface and twenty four hours later on another, but that is far from reality. It is a part of the game that players have come to accept, however they do openly admit to the level of difficulty.
Twenty four hours after Rafael Nadal thumped Robin Soderling in the final of the French Open, he was out praticing on the rain soaked lawns at Queens. A day earlier he was playing on a surface made of crushed brick topped with crushed shale and stone and subsequently on soft yet moist grass. After a tough practice session, where Nadal was finding it difficult to grip the surface, he told reporter that the sole purpose of his twenty minute session was to make contact with the grass and to get a feel of the surface. To understand the difference between the surfaces is the key to a successful career. For the longest time a clay court specialist was known as a person who could outshine the rest of the players but only on the red dirt surface. Their success rate on other surfaces was minimal. All this changed when Rafael Nadal won Wimbledon in 2008 after winning four consecutive French Open titles.
After playing on the red dirt surface, the reason it becomes difficult to adapt to grass is because it is slower. Grass courts are mostly made out of rye grass, and the higher the content of rye grass the slower the court. Thus the tactics have to be changed around completely as grass favours serves and volleys and grass court specialists are considered to be polar opposites of clay court specialists. Due to the fact that the ball has a tendency to skid and then bounce very low, in most cases not even above knee height, players have to get to the ball faster. Also rallies are often missing from grass court tennis, thus making it a treacherous path for players to completely switch their game from clay to grass. However, over the years the premier grass tournament Wimbledon is trying to change this image. They have switched to producing their courts with 100 percent rye grass, making it slower yet bouncier. Thus the higher bounce encourages more baseline play. Furthermore, it is not just the tactics that need alterations, but the footwork and body movement as well. On clay a player needs to put his full weight on his feet to grip the surface, but on grass the fact that it is a natural surface minimises the chances os skidding.
Rafael Nadal, however believes that he can use his clay court win to his advantage. Riding on an air of success he strongly believes he is well prepared to battle it out on grass despite his early exit in Queens. This feat, however, is not impossible as Nadal after winning the French Open in 2008 came with all his ammunition and won in Queens and more importantly Wimbledon. Roger Federer followed suit the following year winning his maiden title on clay in Paris and then wiping out all opposition to win Wimbledon.
This season is no different and with the clay season now over, players have switched gears and eagerly anticipating June 21st when the show on grass begins.
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