Supposedly some have said it plays a bit faster this year. Zep will probably chime in on this.
Ha ha. It seems pretty much similar to last year, maybe a bit faster but what do I know?
Anyways it is a huge improvement from 2012 and before. At least they can hit clean winners now.
^ Yep, almost identical to last year from what I've seen so far (am watching live in Melbourne so I can see the bounce side-on).
Faster than 2013.
2012 slower still, and I didn't attend further back than that, but 2011 looks the same as 2012 on the videos.
I think they are gradually increasing the speed. Djokovic on Sunday said that last year was faster than before. IMO they decided to increase the speed after that marathon final in 2012. It was the tipping point. Today Djokovic said this
"Djokovic says court much faster this year. Prefers medium speed but we'll adjust anyway. Repeats that he didn't have the ideal preparation"
https://twitter.com/carole_bouchard/status/557437886849495040
if Rafa or Djokovic is winning, then its too slow.
if Federer is winning, then its exactly correct the speed.
He calls 2012 medium speed :lol:
AO is practically clay in terms of speed, especially in 2012.
From 2008 to 2012 it was very slow. Before that the rebound ace was slightly quicker. I think now the courts are playing like the old rebound ace.
08-12 very slow indeed.
I think Rebound Ace was still faster than the 2014 Plexi though, and the bounce was lower on Rebound I'm sure.
Bounce affects Fedal much more than speed.
Speed affects Djoker much more than bounce.
Nadal's forehands down the line look like lightening on this year's AO surface.
It looks even more suitable than the 2013 US Open!
Or maybe Nadal is just hitting harder.
I think it is probably because his opponent wasn't putting any pressure on him so he was able to tee off on every shot with ease.
But the court is faster, and Rafa is playing well, so who knows?
Rebound ace was not that fast either. In fact Hewitt used to criticize it for being slow. Actually Djokovic prefers low bounce too, although he can still play well on a high bouncy court. The ideal court for Djokovic is a low and slow one like the O2 arena court.
if Rafa or Djokovic is winning, then its too slow.
if Federer is winning, then its exactly correct the speed.
This surface promotes first strike tennis over grinding it seems and the quality of tennis can only benefit from this IMO. Liking the development
I agree, it benefits Nadal because he hits more down-the-line forehands than most players.
How? Ability of hitting down the forehands ensures that one will get success on fast courts?
Ah YEAH because when your opponent goes down-the-line you are more likely to be late for retrieval, so if your opponent is further aided by the pace then its curtains for ya. That's a big factor in Nadal's US Opens.
Federer should have some success, if that's the case.
08-12 very slow indeed.
I think Rebound Ace was still faster than the 2014 Plexi though, and the bounce was lower on Rebound I'm sure.
Bounce affects Fedal much more than speed.
Speed affects Djoker much more than bounce.
^ You should have seen the down-the-line stunners that had Djokovic lost for answers at that 2013 US Open final.
That US Open final (Nadal won 6-1 in 4th set) is the most lopsided of their last 4 slam meetings.
Here's the $3.1 Million dollar question though:
Do the faster courts (as compared to 2012) favour Nadal or Djokovic?
I think Nadal, but I also think Djoker would still win a match between the two as Nadal's level was a lot higher in 2012 too.
I don't think Isner or Raonic will complain about the fast courts. With those 2 they should skip playing the actual set and just play tie-breakers to decide the match.
Aren't you 14 y/o ? How do you know all this?
I don't think Isner or Raonic will complain about the fast courts. With those 2 they should skip playing the actual set and just play tie-breakers to decide the match.
You'd be shocked by how fast rebound ace looks when you watch matches played on it again today. You don't realize how much the game has been slowed down until you see that.
Djokovic definitely has his preference as low-bouncing (WTF being good evidence of this), but also because Rafa dislikes low-bouncing (making Djoker look better in Nadalovic matches).
But he is almost as good on high-bouncing (AO, Miami, and clay).
Rebound was not fast, but faster than Plexicushion, and as I said before, lower bounce.
Nadal's forehands down the line look like lightening on this year's AO surface.
It looks even more suitable than the 2013 US Open!
Or maybe Nadal is just hitting harder.
100000000000000000% agree, Cincinnati has the correct speed ups wait Nadal won there mmmm no Cincy used to be fast!!!!:twisted:if Rafa or Djokovic is winning, then its too slow.
if Federer is winning, then its exactly correct the speed.
100000000000000000% agree, Cincinnati has the correct speed ups wait Nadal won there mmmm no Cincy used to be fast!!!!:twisted:
From what I have seen, Rafa is flattening his down the line more making it faster through the court. He has recognized too much top spin has become a detriment to his winning. I think we will see a Rafa hitting harder and flatter and being more offensive this year. He knows he needs to shorten points and matches and this is the way to do it.
Where is the evidence that Rebound Ace provided a "lower" bounce? Everything I've heard about it from players and commentators said that it offered the highest bounce of any type of hardcourt.Djokovic definitely has his preference as low-bouncing (WTF being good evidence of this), but also because Rafa dislikes low-bouncing (making Djoker look better in Nadalovic matches).
But he is almost as good on high-bouncing (AO, Miami, and clay).
Rebound was not fast, but faster than Plexicushion, and as I said before, lower bounce.