Tennis heads to the blues
Tennis courts now are a far cry from the olden days when the colour of the surface was mainly green. The splashes of different shades are now adding to the attraction of modern day tennis. In fact it is also the introduction of the various surfaces over the years to mainstream tennis circuits that has sparked off more interest in the game.
From the green lawns of Wimbledon, to the red dirt surface in Paris and ending in the blue acrylic surface in New York, the game has it all. It is not just the differing pace of the various surfaces but also their hues that emit an aura of excitement around the arenas.
The lure of the red dirt commences in early April and goes on till the end of the French Open in Paris. Clay court specialists battle it out on the crimson surface during the eleven ATP tournaments played between that period. All the tournaments and Masters championships are in preparation for the ultimate prize on clay; the French Open.
As soon as the clay season is over, players switch gear to move on to the lush green lawns. The green, newly mowed lawns become the scene for epic battles between players poised to stamp their supremacy on the surface which ends at Wimbledon. However, clay court tournaments and grass court championships are not only restricted to these time frames.
Just a day after the Wimbledon final, the United States’s sole surviving grass court tournament is played in Newport, Rhode Island. That is not the only intrusion, many European cities hold clay court tournaments till the bitter end of July, just in time for the commencement of the hardcourt season. The battle between the surfaces and colours continue till the entry of the blue surface.
Come August, Europe paves the way for North America. This is the signal that the hard court season has begun, with the USTA Olympus US Open series being the centre of all media attention.
Those six weeks of tennis are the epitome of not just the game but of the lucrative payouts, marketing skills and of course entertainment. Under the slogan “It must be love”, the USTA holds ten tournaments for both men and women over the span of a month and a half. The victors who have won the most tournaments in that time span have the chance of pocketing a million dollars.
The doors of the USTA have now opened, with the tournament being held in Atlanta, Georgia. Andy Roddick is looking to gain some momentum as he entered the tournament on a wild card. But it was a treacherous road for the American who had to play out three sets in both his early matches to reach the semi finals.
However, it seems as if his dismal form continued as he was defeated by his compatriot Mardy Fish. Fish went on to win the opening tournament after defeating fellow American John Isner in the final.
Los Angeles is the next stop for the players looking to win the million dollar grand prize. But with Novak Djokovic pulling out of the tournament all eyes are set on Andy Murray as the next high ranked player is world number twenty and defending champion Sam Querry. The Farmer’s Classic will also feature an exhibition match between Andre Agassi and John McEnroe to raise funds for the Agassi foundation.
From Los Angeles the players would fly across the continent to Washington DC. The names to watch out for will again include Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and Sam Querry. It would be interesting to see whether Roddick would be able to avenge his Atlanta defeat or would Fish edge closer to the million dollar jackpot.
Although, another player to watch out for is Fernando Verdasco, who despite having lost early in Wimbledon, will be looking to hone his skills before the big Roger’s Cup. The Roger’s Cup is the big match up of the series. All the players will be looking to capture the Master’s title across the border in Canada. Andy Murray was the winner last year and will be looking to do the same this time round.
Roger Federer will be looking to defend his title in Cincinnati in order to gain some momentum before the US Open. He would want to prove his critics wrong and get back on track.
The last stop before the final grand slam of the year takes place in New Haven. However, many top seeds refrain from taking part in this tournament in order to rest before the ultimate championship. With the series in its infancy right now, it would be interesting to see who capture the million dollar prize and whether the series can predict an accurate winner for the US Open.
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