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Will Rafael Nadal’s Influence Protect the Future of Clay Courts?
Published: February 19, 2014
Last week, Bleacher Report Tennis examined the possibility of a fifth Grand Slam venue at clay-court Brazil. There is at least moderate concern that clay retains its place as the secondary surface on the ATP tour. Respondents frequently suggested that Masters 1000 tournaments on clay represent more regions of the world, including one in South America, even if this means switching existing venues—for example, accepting Brazil or Argentina, but perhaps dropping Madrid.
This article is a follow-up feature that examines the importance of Nadal to the continued health and growth of clay-court tennis.
King of Clay Title Takes New Meaning
Nadal is not the first player to be dubbed the king of clay. It’s an honorary distinction given to whoever is the best player on clay at the moment. In the 1990s, Sergi Bruguera and Thomas Muster were frequently referred to by this label as they won French Open titles and molded their careers almost exclusively on clay.
By 2001, Gustavo Kuerten carried this banner along with his third French Open title.
In 2004, Guillermo Coria lost the French Open, but was considered a viable heir to becoming the next king of clay. Few people at this time had heard of young Nadal.
These players only mastered clay. The title was meant as a compliment, but it carried with it more than enough criticism: You win on clay, but you can’t win on other surfaces. It was as if their version of tennis should contain an asterisk, something Muster had to constantly defend during his peak in 1995-96.
Early in his career, and by early 2008, Nadal had earned a similar reputatio...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis
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