London, England (Sports Network) - The ATP Tour has decided to ban blue clay
for next season.
The blue clay made its debut at the stop in Madrid, replacing the traditional
red dirt, and many players, including superstars Rafael Nadal and Novak
Djokovic, complained.
"After careful consideration, I have decided that blue clay courts will not be
allowed next year," said ATP Executive Chairman & President Brad Drewett in a
statement on Saturday. "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, which were not acceptable at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000
tournament, one of our top events worldwide. Regardless of color, we must
first ensure that courts are safe and fair for players."
The ATP granted permission to the Madrid Open to use blue clay for the 2012
event only, with the stipulation that it would be evaluated after the
tournament.
Both Nadal and Djokovic were unhappy with the court conditions in Madrid and
voiced their opinions after losses during the week. Nadal, a two-time Madrid
champ, was beaten in the third round by Fernando Verdasco, while 2011 champion
Djokovic exited with a quarterfinal loss to Janko Tipsarevic.
The Sports Network