Preferred/least favorite surface?

M

MadariKatu

Hall of Fame
As a spectator which is your preferred surface? Why?

My favorite is by far clay. It has nothing to do with it being the best surface of some of my favorite players (Nadal, Thiem, Halep), it's more because of the lesser advantage of the serve, compared to other surfaces and point construction, long rallies with lots of variation etc. I was never into big servers like Sampras for example.

My least favorite is generally grass, because of the opposite, but there have been some amazing matches there too (Nadal-Djokovic 2018, Nadal-Del Potro 2018, Nadal-Federer 2007/2008/2019; see a pattern here?).

On hardcourts there are also long rallies also, and great matches, but for some reason, when the clay season begins, I just enjoy it sooo much more. The only downside is that sometimes Nadal dominates too much, and the matches are not that interesting (2020 comes to mind). Can't wait for it to start again!!!!

What are your thoughts?
 
Fav -> Grass and by some margin.

file-20180710-70063-wxv59q.jpg
 
Grass is the surface I get the most excited for, but I think the rarity of the surface is a big part of the reason. It comes and goes so quickly that it doesn't have a chance to stick around long enough for me to get tired of it. I might start itching for some hard courts if the grass season dragged on as long as clay does.

Sometimes it can be kind of a chore to watch these days with so many players that don't have a proper slice or net game in their repertoire. It can just start to look like a clay match with a few more winners. Even Novak, for as great as he is on the surface, I don't particularly enjoy watching him on grass. I think his skill set is much more enjoyable to watch on hard courts. But if everyone played like Roger (or even a current Rafa) then I could watch grass tennis year round, no problem.
 
Preferred surface - the one my favourite is most successful on
Least favourite surface - the one my favourite is least successful on
 
To play on:

Carpet

Hard
Green clay
Red clay

I have never played on a grass court. Those aren't easy to find, y'know?

To watch:

Grass
Carpet (a lot of it comes from watching older matches that I wasn't around to check out live)
Hard


Red clay (blue clay was there for just one tournament and I've only seen a few points of green clay so I omitted them)
 
Watching what’s on the tour now:

1. Grass
2. Fast outdoor HC
3. Fast indoor HC
4. Slow outdoor HC
5. Slow indoor HC
6. Red Clay

To play on:

1. Grass (never played on, but probably)
2. Fast outdoor HC
3. Fast indoor HC
4. Carpet (assuming, never played on)
5. Wood (assuming, never played on)
6. Green Clay
7. Red Clay
8. Slow outdoor HC
9. Slow indoor HC
 
Last edited:
Street said:
Preferred surface - the one my favourite is most successful on
Least favourite surface - the one my favourite is least successful on
Click to expand...
who would that be?
Third Serve said:
To play on:

Carpet

Hard
Green clay
Red clay

I have never played on a grass court. Those aren't easy to find, y'know?

To watch:

Grass
Carpet (a lot of it comes from watching older matches that I wasn't around to check out live)
Hard


Red clay (blue clay was there for just one tournament and I've only seen a few points of green clay so I omitted them)
Click to expand...
When playing, what's the difference between red and green clay? I had never heard of green clay before
 
Street said:
Preferred surface - the one my favourite is most successful on
Least favourite surface - the one my favourite is least successful on
Click to expand...
Which makes sense. I would think most of us were attracted to a of a particular style of play and then chose our favorite players based on that.

I'm not a fan of grass court tennis because Federer is good on it. I became a fan of Federer because I like watching fast court tennis.
 
MadariKatu said:
who would that be?

When playing, what's the difference between red and green clay? I had never heard of green clay before
Click to expand...
Actually I don't really have a favourite player. I just like to watch good tennis so whether it's on a hard court, grass court or clay court doesn't matter too much to me. I was just joking because the answers so far in the thread have been obvious and probably will be (nothing wrong with that though).
 
MeatTornado said:
Which makes sense. I would think most of us were attracted to a of a particular style of play and then chose our favorite players based on that.

I'm not a fan of grass court tennis because Federer is good on it. I became a fan of Federer because I like watching fast court tennis.
Click to expand...
Yeah, i agree and there's nothing wrong with choosing e. g. clay as a nadal fan etc. , i was just joking because the answers are bound to be obvious to this question.
 
Favorite surface to play: Clay, then grass (almost a tie)

Favorite surface to watch: Grass by far, then fast indoor. Clay is dead last.
 
Shaolin said:
Favorite surface to play: Clay, then grass (almost a tie)

Favorite surface to watch: Grass by far, then fast indoor. Clay is dead last.
Click to expand...
Ha, funny! Is there a particular reason to dislike watching the game on the surface you prefer to play? Is it player results related or something else?
 
No favourite.

I like to watch all styles on all surfaces. The problem is the tour has become so homogenised over nearly 2 decades now and there are practically no true surface specialists these days. The clay court specialists are laughable compared to those from the past. We have players playing a generic boring style throughout the year
 
To play favorite has become synthetic grass. Not as hard on the body, some sliding if you have the skill, still gives slice a little bonus and winners. But consistent unlike real grass. Least favorite--dry clay. Moist clay is fun.

Favorite to watch--probably fast HC that is allows various games styles to flourish. Least favorite indoor. Just don't like seeing pros on TV indoor. Seems too controlled for them.

I'll add used to love playing indoors for the consistent conditions, but after COVID, I'm committed to outdoor play whenever. Being in the elelments good or bad rock.
 
Last edited:
To watch:
  1. Fast indoor carpet
  2. Pre-2002 grass
  3. Fast hard court
To play:
  1. Grass
  2. Fast hard court
  3. Anything but clay
You could give me free tickets to the French Open final, but you'd have to pay me a fortune to make me watch it.
 
To watch:
1. Grass
2. Fast HC (slight preference for outdoor)
3. Clay (prefer red to green)
4. Slow HC (strong preference for outdoor. I detest slow indoor tennis)

My playing preferences are basically the same, except I've never played on grass and I prefer playing indoors. Also played on carpet once and enjoyed it.
 
MadariKatu said:
Ha, funny! Is there a particular reason to dislike watching the game on the surface you prefer to play? Is it player results related or something else?
Click to expand...

The main reason is the play just gets repetitive, clay can just become crosscourt rally battles..I really like good attacking tennis with a point getting finished at the net.

I also think grass is really pleasing to the eye. You can also see the ball so much better than clay.
 
Shaolin said:
The main reason is the play just gets repetitive, clay can just become crosscourt rally battles..I really like good attacking tennis with a point getting finished at the net.

I also think grass is really pleasing to the eye. You can also see the ball so much better than clay.
Click to expand...

I think the poster was asking why you like to play on clay, yet don't watch it. The latter needs no explanation.

You like getting filth all over you when you play? Dust on dry days, mud on damp ones? I recall you can volley, so it can't be the usual reason people like clay. I'm confused too.

A beautiful grass court on a sunny day is the most enjoyable tennis experience one can have. I have one set of all whites that I save for such days, which have become all too infrequent.
 
Last edited:
I love Grass and Clay
Generally hate Hard Court

Hard Court is an example of how organizations are trying to perfect tennis, while grass and clay has authenticity as they are natural tennis surfaces
 
Hard & Clay are my favourites because AO is my home slam and RG is Rafa's backyard

Grass - 90's grass play when I started watching tennis was as boring as batshit, servebots were everywhere, if the serve wasn't an ace the server rushed to the net the point was usually over within one or two shots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Favorite Players and Favorite Surface to Play On
Replies
18
Views
2K
clayqueen
clayqueen
Third Serve
Rank the Big 3 five-setters
Replies
32
Views
921
tudwell
T
batz
Murray: "Clay is my favourite surface"
Replies
14
Views
2K
piece
P
Artificial Grass
  • Poll Poll
The more neutral surface - Clay or Grass?
Replies
15
Views
1K
Zeref
Zeref
SaintClaires
Favorite player outside the top 100?
Replies
29
Views
2K
SaintClaires
SaintClaires
Back
Top