Now that both tours have moved on from the wildly entertaining blue clay of Madrid, it seems all is returning to normal as the clay is RED at the Rome Masters event! Let’s cheers Madrid for committing to the blue clay and providing tennis with a jolt of outside attention. Personally, I liked the color and thought visibility was great. How fitting that Roger Federer took down the title too huh? Years ago, when the tennis ball color changed from white to yellow, traditionalists might have disagreed. And even further, when Penn started making ATP Masters’ light green balls, people may have disagreed. I’d say embrace the change, just as the balls, rackets, and equipment has, the game has only grown and gotten better in the long run. If it can attract mass appeal like: “Oh wouldn’t it be cool to go play on a blue clay court?!?” – even better!! We hope you’ve enjoyed 10sballs.com‘s coverage and photos of the blue clay too!
It’s heard that Rome is known to have the slowest clay courts (in the world). I’ve practiced on them personally and I can agree with this rumor. Their red clay there seems to stick more, seems to grip the ball and conditions can feel heavy and sluggish. Just ask John Isner who looked like he went 15 rounds with a gorilla after his three-set loss to hometown favorite Andreas Seppi! Isner’s serve was taken out of the equation and his movement was put to the test. Seppi simply remained constant and let Big John crash out. I sure hope that blister or cut on Isner’s hand heals quickly because the amount of blood that was seeping out of there was not pretty! The clay has definitely worn out some players and it’s evident that a few are feeling the fatigue. #8 seeded Tipsarevic also crashed out, losing to Warwrinka 6-3 6-1 even after his powerful performance in Madrid.
Who’s eager to see the later rounds? It’s been a while since the big 3 faced one another and given us yet another classic match right?? On Rome’s slow clay, it’s certain to be a great test for each if they can survive. Djokovic must be itching for a fight, he’s endured some pretty tough losses and there’s going to be a point where he snaps. You can see it in his eyes. He’ll come raging back from the dead in a match or simply wear his body ragged in order to win a big match. It won’t be pretty and we’ll definitely see that explosion of emotion or rage equipped with fist pumps and heart-poundings. They are in Rome after all… Gladiators, 10sballs.com salutes you!
Topics: Andreas Seppi, John Isner, Novak Djokovic, Rome Masters
Share this article:
Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:
10sBalls Top Stories
- No Key Biscayne, No Problem; New Site, Same Great Miami Open Tennis Event
- 10SBALLS SHARES FAVORITE EPA TENNIS PHOTOS Of 2018
- THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR ANY TENNIS PLAYER & FAN
- ATP MEN’S TENNIS • WILL IT MOVE FROM LONDON TO MANCHESTER OR TOKYO OR SINGAPORE? OR TURIN?
- ALIX RAMSAY WRITES TO “TENNIS SANTA CLAUS” WITH HER WISHES • ANDY MURRAY!
- CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE JACK KRAMER CLUB – DECEMBER 15 TO 22 2018 • UTR • ORACLE • AND AN AWESOME NEW TENNIS EVENT
- 10sBalls.com Shares Alix Ramsay’s Rambling On About Tennis and The Holidays
- ROGER FEDERER JOINED BY RAFA NADAL FOR THE 2019 LAVER CUP FESTIVITIES IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- TENNIS PLAYERS’ UNION – IS IT NEEDED? BY MARK WINTERS
- Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH
- ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO
- JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY
- TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON • 10SBALLS REPORTS ON THE LAWN TENNIS WRITERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT WIMBLEDON’S DEBENTURE CLUB
- 10sBalls.com Shares a Great Gift For A Tennis Player – The Functional Tennis Match Journal
- BNP PARIBAS TENNIS OPEN NAMED 2018 WTA PREMIER MANDATORY TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR
In Case You Missed It
EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA
Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE
Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER
According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife
Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos