Tennis in March And the blue clay conundrum of Madrid Open

We are barely into the third month of the new year is and as I mentioned out tennis players are really ratcheting up frequent flyer miles. March sees only two ATP tournaments - The BNP Paribas at Indian Wells and The Sony Open Tennis at Miami both of which are ATP 1000 championships.  So March offers a brief respite before the onslaught of April and May tournaments that serve as a run up to the French Open at Roland Garros starting on the 25th of May.  All ATP tourneys in these two months are clay court tournaments. So while the players will have bang their shoes with their rackets to loosen the clay stuck to the soils, it will be easier on the knees. Nadal who broke in the new season by playing in Vinal del Mar in Chile has already asked to lower the number of games to sustain the longevity of the player as well as his fitness. Federer has already announced his plans of taking a two month break to spend time with this family.  He will be seen next playing in Madrid Open that starts on the 5th of March. 

 Madrid Open had generated a lot of heat last year when it unveiled a new blue clay surface. Former tennis champion Ion Tiriac own this tournament and was responsible for this change from red clay to a blue dyed surface. This provoked an unfavourable response from the top players like Viktoria Azarenka, Djokovic and the King of Clay, Nadal himself.  

To reach difficult shots on clay, professionals often slide on the crushed brick that blankets the surface, but they can usually stop and change direction without much trouble. Djokovic said he felt off-balance and unable to control the ball during his match against Mr Gimeno-Traver. Victoria Azarenka, reckons the blue clay has also affected the bounce of the ball.  This ATP 1000 tournament is seen as a warm-up for the French Open.

Nadal lost to compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the third round while playing on blue and Rafa threatened to skip Madrid Open if the organisers did not revert to the old, comfortable red clay.  "If things continue, [there] will be one less tournament in my calendar," said the Spaniard. Djokovic to has taken the same stance while Federer has asked The players to 'stop complaining'.  While he agrees that the blue clay feels definitely different, it's his job to play and adapt to changing conditions. "If you want to be a good clay court player, you must be able to play everywhere", was what Federer said of the this out of the 'blue, change. Serena Williams too echoed similar sentiments.  The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) allows any player who has clocked up more than 600 matches in his professional career to skip one of the year's eight mandatory Masters 1000 tournaments, which include the Madrid Open. Both Nadal and Federer are eligible for such an exemption (although their rankings could fall if they took advantage of it).  

However it won't come to that at all.  The blue clay used at Madrid Masters has been banned from all ATP World Tour events in 2013. "After careful consideration, I have decided that blue clay courts will not be allowed next year. I very much believe in innovation and exploring ways to enhance our sport. While the blue clay may have offered better visibility on television, there were clearly issues with the quality of the courts in Madrid this year ..." Executive Chairman and President Brad Drewett said in a statement after a meeting of the ATP Board of Directors in London.

So all's well with our world.

I was watching Berdych versus Tobias Kamke in the second round of Dubai Duty Free Championship. I have already said that this ATP 500Tour can rival the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena.  It is a self sufficient global village hotels, restaurants, pubs, golf club and even a yachting club. But as of now, Dubai will have to wait because it will still have to fill the stands that are empty for such a world class event.  It's the same sad occupancy story with other second round matches except that of Federer's.  

People come to watch him play. Even the early rounds with wild card entrants, low ranked players and debutants are a full house if Federer is playing.  And now it makes more sense because chances of witnessing Federer in full flow are more probable in the early rounds and by the semi final round when all the top four meteors collide onto his path, his game becomes laboured and we have to go through the four setter exercises in futility.  However as long as Federer keeps his top spot Camp Murray will have to keep cribbing about how 'slot' favouritism leans toward Federer by scheduling all his matches for the more prime time evening viewing as was the case in the Australian open.

 That's the way it is and will be as long as you are successful,  and have camera candy.  Federer has both in abundance and with the addition the twins ( something that no players on the tour have and by that I mean children) his stock has risen really.  His twins and his fatherhood find a mention in all post match interviews.  People seem to love it.  Back to the third round of the Dubai Duty free and our little man Davydenko is playing Federer. He loses the first set 6-2.   I am seeing Federer in full flow including his patent down-the-line forehand on winged feet . The delicate volleys are intact and precise lobs are all there.  It's only a matter of time before Federer moves on to the quarter finals at his favourite destination-Dubai. 

For this championship, I have spotted Federer wearing his light grey t-shirt, dark horrors and pink shoes combination, a carryover from take Austrlian open.  He is wearing Vapor 9 Tour shoes from Nike.  Earlier in the day I say Berdych wear the same shoes in fluoroscent green colour.  The Vapor shoes from Nike seem to be popular on the tour. 

And predictably Federer has won the quarter finals against Davydenko 6-2, 6-2.