Does anyone care about clay season?

[Apun94]

It’s time for the dirt. The crushed red brick clay tennis is back. With it comes heavy topspin, unceasing line checks, drop shots galore, and heavy, heavy grunting.

We’ve got 4 continents worth of clay tennis already this week - Houston, Estoril, and Marrakech on the 250 level and of course Bogota, Florianopolis, and Mexico City (where a certain Bernie Tomic is making a run) at the challenger level. Berrettini is making a run at a title and ascending into form, Shelton’s kick serve is propelling the ball out of the stadium in Houston, and Richie Gasquet is ending Thiem’s hopes and dreams.

And yet, aside from the conspicuous Monte Carlo withdrawal of one 37 year old lefty, it’s mostly been crickets all around.

What’s compelling about this clay season?

What’s missing from this clay season?

Who are the main characters to watch out for this clay season?

Simply put, what do you care about this clay season?

We all know the real suspense is if Nadal will play RG or not and what his level will be when he returns. All else is secondary.
Secondly, this is Alcaraz's tournament to lose if Nadal doesnt play. It's time for Alc to take the next step

 

[Holmes]

Clay is the most enjoyable surface to play on, other than indoor hard in my humble opinion. The spins and angles you can troll your opponent with are food for the soul.

 

[mavsman149]

I really enjoy the clay season because of the beauty of seeing points constructed with patience and the aesthetics of red clay. Also almost all the top players grow up on clay (except those from North America/Australia/UK) and play well on it so that you see a lot of competitive matches even in earlier rounds. I usually will watch many matches at Monte Carlo, Rome and the FO.

It's funny, I appreciate the aesthetics of the red clay now, but when I first got into tennis I hated it in the early 00's without the benefit of HDTV. It was hard to look at, it was so bright.

 

[socallefty]

It's funny, I appreciate the aesthetics of the red clay now, but when I first got into tennis I hated it in the early 00's without the benefit of HDTV. It was hard to look at, it was so bright.

You have to change the color setting of your TV during clay matches to see the ball better.

 

[NeutralFan]

The RG 2022 SF kinda felt like it would be (Alcaraz-Nadal) but then Carlos had to lose to freaking Zverev

Let's be honest Z schooled Carlos in qf

 

[ActualTennisPlayer]

Let's be honest Z schooled Carlos in qf

And the SF against Nadal was epic until a freak accident

 

[NeutralFan]

And the SF was Nadal was epic until a freak accident

Tbh condition ruined the semi , it could have been a match for ages has condition remained normal.

 

[Dane_is_Finnish_OJ]

Clay season is the best season.

 

[Subway Tennis]

@Kralingen - Do you have a top 5 favorites for RG?

I know it’s crazy early to ask given how much clay court tennis we need to see before RG even starts, and it is very draw dependent, but interested to know where you are at on the usual suspects like Sinner, Ruud, Rune, Djokovic, Nadal, GOATcaraz, Tsitsipas etc etc.

 

[dking68]

@NeutralFan how far will Sinner go at RG?

 

[MichaelNadal]

I just care about tennis. The surface is irrelevant.

 

[airchallenge2]

Clay tennis is awesome!

 

[NeutralFan]

@NeutralFan how far will Sinner go at RG?

Win it all the way , i already called it

 

[NeutralFan]

I just care about tennis. The surface is irrelevant.

I thought all you cared for was Nadal lol

 

[MichaelNadal]

I thought all you cared for was Nadal lol

I watched tennis before Nadal and I'll watch after. No one has been anywhere close to as entertaining though, it is what it is.

 

[NeutralFan]

I watched tennis before Nadal and I'll watch after. No one has been anywhere close to as entertaining though, it is what it is.

Who was your favourite player before Nadal?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Who was your favourite player before Nadal?

Roddick and Venus

 

[Subway Tennis]

I just care about tennis. The surface is irrelevant.

That’s the best way to be. Unfortunately for me when clay season starts I go into geek mode and the tennis / life balance goes a bit out of whack.

 

[GloW]

i like clay

 

[NaDjoFed]

Clay season is the best season. Spring starts, the red surface and the blue sky is just so beautiful, and it reminds me of my first matches as a kid. I know it is not the same everywhere, but here in Europe (especially Southern Europe) we all grew up on Clay.

 

[SonnyT]

1. No slam has fancier pre-slam season than RG.
2. Venues such as MC and Rome are worth more the price of admission.

 

[Kralingen]

Clay season is the best season. Spring starts, the red surface and the blue sky is just so beautiful, and it reminds me of my first matches as a kid. I know it is not the same everywhere, but here in Europe (especially Southern Europe) we all grew up on Clay.

Have you been to one of these major clay tournaments in person? I really want to go to Rome or RG.

 

[NaDjoFed]

Have you been to one of these major clay tournaments in person? I really want to go to Rome or RG.

I usually go to smaller events like Challengers. But I was in Monte Carlo in 2017 (Nadal - Scwarzman) and Rome in 2019 (watched a few matches in the first rounds). Nice atmosphere

 

[junior74]

Not that excited. I expect Novak to win RG and Hitman to say EMW has saved tennis and we can all sleep safely (unless we are traumatised ball boys or lines women)

Sinner and Zverev will win a Masters each.

I have given up on Ruud. Still hoping for Korda to overcome his anxiety of winning.

 

[LuckyR]

Anyone? Uummm... just every real tennis fan.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Does anyone care about clay season?​

It is the premiere surface where true GOATs can battle with a need for agility, endurance, shot making and tactics. I get some fans won't like it and prefer the other inferior surfaces.

 

[metsman]

No

 

[RS]

No

You must have enjoyed the RG 07 final.

 

[clayqueen]

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Carlos with Gumby joints now. Looking forward to the red head domination. Let’s go!!

 

[junior74]

Carlos with Gumby joints now. Looking forward to the red head domination. Let’s go!!

 

[Crocodile]

Look I could be wrong but I think the clay court season lost something when they stopped naming the tournament after the name of the country and simply called it by the name of the city.
For example winning the Italian Open sounds better than winning the Rome Masters - it gives it more prestige and value: