Should there be clay tournaments in the 2 weeks before Wimbledon?

Question

I dont understand it at all. What is the sense in having clay court tournaments in the two weeks between French Open and Wimbledon. This year, both men and women have clay tournaments in Warsaw and Barcelona respectively. The grass season is a short season as it is. Why put clay tournaments in those short 2 weeks?

Answer 1

No there shouldn't. It's actually sacrilegious towards Grass Court tennis and the history of the Championships that are Wimbledon. Well said Dr.D.

Seeing Rafa dismantle Novak on clay and then whoop his azz on grass should stop any foolish talk of Novak being #1 any time soon. Rafa the best #2 to never be #1 and the successor to the Crown when King Fed steps down. Hail King Fed.

Answer 2

Yeah, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either. Unless you're REALLY desperate for some $ and ranking points. It's almost like you're putting up a white flag and letting the rest of the field know come Wimbledon, here's a freebie for you right here! I mean if you're a professional tennis player, whatever playing style comes most naturally to you, you should always make an effort to excel on all surfaces as it's called the ATP Tour, not the Claycout Tour or the Hardcout Tour! Look at Federer and Nadal, styles are different as oil and water yet they still make the effort to and actually do succeed on all surfaces. When you gravitate towards one surface, you just sell your game, confidence and career short to yourself and to your competition.

Answer 3

There are some tennis players who don't care to play grass court tennis, and would rather play on their beloved clay during the grass season. In the past, this group included most of the spanish players. This is yet another thing that makes Nadal so special. While his country men are running from grass, he is winning Queens and reaching WImbledon finals.