Blue Clay In Madrid – What Will Nadal and Federer Say?

Written by: Staff on 22nd February 2012

Blue Clay In Madrid - What Will Nadal and Federer Say? |

Madrid Masters officials are barreling ahead with their plan to play the ATP-WTA Masters event in May on tradition-busting blue clay. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer might object, but the show must go on, according to the tournament’s billionaire impresario Ion Tiriac.

Tiriac, who has been a rule-breaker and innovator during the four decades of his transformation form a Romanian tennis player who teamed with Ilie Nastase to a billionaire promoter these days, says his true blue look is the future.

He and tournament director Manolo Santana cite increased visibility for players and spectators of a yellow ball against a blue court.

“The tournament, despite having ten past editions under its belt, has just been born again. It seems to be the opportune time to open the doors to possible changes,” said Tiriac. “We want to work on its (tournament’s) personality and reinforce its identity.

“Blue will now be its distinctive color, its trademark. But that does not mean that it will not continue to be a member of the major clay events including Roland Garros, Monte Carlo or Rome.” Added Santana: “No one has ever lifted a trophy on a surface like this.”