“10s Whenever” Newsletter, Vol. 77 – The Blue Edition

Written by: Staff on 10th May 2012

"10s Whenever" Newsletter, Vol. 77 - The Blue Edition |

10sballs.com‘s

“10s Whenever”

Newsletter, Vol. 77 – The Blue Edition

10 May 2012

Today’s issue is very, very blue! Now, not everybody is excited about the blue clay in Madrid, while others are finding it interesting. Undoubtedly many of you are debating this right now, whether or not the blue courts are going to be a longstanding element of the Mutua Madrid Open, or are just an experiment. Novak Djokovic has already spoken out againts the blue clay. It seems the courts have even tripped up Rafa, the king of clay, after he lost Thursday to Fernando Verdasco. Serena Williams on the other hand is enjoying her blue clay victories after defeating Caroline Wozniacki. It was a tough win, but she did it and will face Maria Sharapova in the quarter finals. Enjoy another wonderful edition of our newsletter and please forward it to your wonderful tennis loving friends and dubs partners because the more people subscribing to our newsletter means the more interestinfg stories we can get out.

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The Outspoken Novak Djokovic is Upset With Madrid’s Blue Clay

One match on the controversial blue clay courts of Madrid has put Novak Djokovic on the warpath against a surface which he says plays like nothing in the game.

“This is not tennis. Either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court,” said the steaming Serb after reaching the second round in a struggle with the surface as he held off Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

“I cannot find the words to describe this court. It’s really tough to play like this on a centre court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good.” [Read More]

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Slip Sliding Away in the Music Box

Well, it’s Tuesday night and now the European clay court season is in full swing. This week the top 16 fit men and the top 16 fit women in the world are entered in the Mutua Madrid Masters event. The only men missing are Murray (bad back), Fish (not right since Miami), Monaco (ankle) and Nishikori (pulled stomach muscle). The only women missing are also fighting injuries: Petkovic and Lisicki. The Monte Carlo event is historic and it is still an ATP1000, but it is not a mandatory event. The two weeks of Madrid and Rome all of the best players in the world who are able are entered. Well, not quite all the best players, with 56 spots in the men’s draw and 7 qualifiers and 4 wild cards there were 45 spots for direct acceptances and the last direct acceptance was number 56. [Read More]

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Roger Federer Dodges the Raonic Bullet

Roger Federer narrowly escaped his second round encounter with #23 Milos Raonic. If one looked at the stat sheet instead of the final score, you might think Raonic trounced Federer. He hit 21 aces to Federer’s 7, won more points on his first and second serves, won more points when returning, and won more points total in the match. And the Swiss Master managed to squeak by in a third set tiebreak.

It wasn’t surprising that this match was close, Raonic has been playing good tennis all year and came in after a good win against Nalbandian. Federer on the other hand was last seen playing an ATP-level match in March where he lost to Roddick in Miami. [Read More]

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I’m Seeing Blue

Madrid 2012. BLUE CLAY. Only Tiriac would have the balls…. At first I saw it on a TV monitor. It looked weird. Now I’ve seen it in person. It still looks weird. Would I like it in pink? Purple? Hmn…
I need to decide. My mind feels like it’s playing games with me. Everyone here at 10sballs.com is talking about it. Tom Nash asked will the balls be red? Good question. For television what color will contrast the blue the best? Any thoughts readers? Blue grass? That’s next. We know it. With aegon loving that same Federer blue? What about blue shoes and socks. Blue screen. Green screen. Hollywood? No green room. Blue screen? Oh well. [Read More]

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Players More Than Just Blue Over New Surface

By Kristen Tracy

If you’ve been living under a tennis rock the past week or so, then you might not realize that a players uproar has begun in Madrid. Okay so maybe it isn’t an uproar, but many ATP and WTA players are extremely unhappy with the new surface chosen for this year’s Mutua Madrid Open. The ATP opted to use a new blue clay rather than the usual red, and no one seems to like it – especially Rafael Nadal, the man expected to dominate the tournament (or any tournament on clay for that matter). His displeasure with the tournament is nothing new, but this is the first time fans have heard something other than the sweet, soft-spoken Nadal we all know and love. [Read More]

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