What do clay, grass, artificial grass, and hard materials like asphalt have in common? As you probably know, they’re all surfaces used in tennis courts. For the player, each material provides a different experience because it changes the way the ball bounces. Clay courts are famous for their variable bounce and require a lot of skill. However, it’s worth repeating that even if you don’t have the guile of Rafael Nadal or the dexterity of Chris Evert, both players with great reputations in clay court tennis, you can still be a success on this unique surface.
Nadal and Evert are among the most decorated players in French Open history. In the case of Nadal, he remains among the favorites in the Roland-Garros 2022 odds despite having turned 35 years of age. Why? Because he has the perfect game for slow courts like those in Paris.
Maybe you have a tournament coming up on clay, or perhaps you’re looking forward to a tennis-focused vacation and your first taste of action on this unique surface. In this guide, we’ll take a look at how you can adapt your game for these special conditions. Hopefully, these pointers will see you turn out to be a winner.
Take It Slow
As you are no doubt already aware, the ball bounces a lot slower but higher on clay courts, like at the French Open. When playing on concrete, grass or even carpet, you may find yourselves hitting a lot of baseline shots from thigh or knee height But on the clay, a higher trajectory of above the waist may be required. You will generally have more time to ‘run around’ shots too, and while there’s no easy way to get used to this different dynamic, at least knowing what to expect will stand you in good stead.
Consider Your Fitness
As a general rule, it’s a lot more difficult to win ‘easy’ points on clay – be it by serving aces or hitting winners from the baseline. To enjoy success on clay, you’re going to have to grind out points by creating tight angles and drawing your opponent out of position. On the slowest of clay courts, it becomes so tough to win points that sometimes you simply have to wait for your rival across the net to make mistakes.
Consequently, excellent fitness and leg strength are vital on the red courts. If you have plenty of preparation time, be sure to work more cardiovascular and strengthening training into your fitness program.
Construct the Win
Clay court tennis requires intelligent shot-making and belligerence as much as it does sheer brute force. You’ll need to outsmart your rival and take control of each point – ostensibly by working the angles and making them run … hard. Get them covering acres of the court laterally (from one side to the other) and vertically (mixing deep hitting with drop shots) to keep them guessing and ensure you retain control.
A 47-shot rally 🤯
THIS is clay-court tennis 😍@dieschwartzman | @InteBNLdItalia | #IBI22 pic.twitter.com/xHwHsolcNw
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 11, 2022
Work On Your Variety
You’ll need an arsenal of weapons at your disposal to bamboozle your opponent on clay. Simply hitting ‘straight lines’ on either your forehand and backhand side will not allow you to maximize your game, so look to implement spin on both sides in order to unsettle your opponent and take them out of their rhythm. If you’ve ever wanted to improve your backhand slice, or work on that dropshot, doing so prior to your clay court adventure is as good a time as any!
