Surfaces of play to tennis
The Tennis is practiced on a court with precise dimensions. However, this court can be made up of various coatings, which has a consequence on the speed of play, and on quality of the rebounds. In the professional tournaments, one finds mainly five types of surfaces. Initially hard surfaces (Rebound Ace, DecoTurf, cement), the beaten Ground (surface of the tournament of Roland-Garros), the Grass, and the synthetic surfaces, used especially in the tournaments in room (Gerflor, fitted carpet, more rarely parquet floor).
Beaten ground
It is the surface of the Tournoi of Roland Garros who remains the major tournament disputed on this surface and of many European tournaments: Rome, Monaco, Barcelona, Hamburg. This surface was supplanted in second half of the twentieth century by the surfaces called into hard because they fear the rain and the freezing which make them temporarily unusable and especially they claim an important and expensive maintenance. The upper part is a cover Calcaire covered with powder made up of a crushed brick powder or stone. The grounds of beaten Ground green are especially present at the the United States and are faster than their counterparts ochers. The beaten ground courts are grounds located in the dry and hot countries (ex: Spain).
The characteristics of this surface make beaten ground a not very current surface, and which for this reason is not appreciated by the whole of the players. For this reason, the majority of the players who dominate the play over beaten Ground are Spaniards, the Argentinian ones, etc, i.e. players living in sunny countries where the practice of the play on beaten ground is possible throughout the year. The majority of the American and Spanish players latino thus make their training on ocher surface.
Several characteristics make that the beaten ground is a particular surface. The most important factor is first of all the speed and the rebound of surface; the beaten ground is indeed a slower surface (although speed can vary according to the quality of the courts, and the weather conditions) what causes to facilitate the long exchanges. The most powerful players consequently have more difficulty in as quickly conclude the point as on other surfaces, which explains the low number of " large serveurs" and volley-ball players who appear in the prize list of the tournaments being held on this surface. The beaten Ground is moreover a surface which is more technical and makes it possible to the players to put much effect in the ball. That explains why the top spin is very much used, attacks some as in defense. The Deadened E with retro effect and against foot also are appreciated on this surface. Lastly, the last point characteristic of the beaten ground lies in the fact that the supports are less abrupt than on a hard surface for example, because the ground is not entirely stable, which requires a control of the slips preceding striking and frequent with the high level. Recent studies of the FFT made classify this surface in " surface confort" owing to the fact that one does not have on this surface the problems of wears of articulations which one has on surfaces into hard (where the shocks on the articulations about three times the weight of the body is).
On the level of the arbitration, the beaten ground appears interesting since the balls leave marks to the level of their point of impact, which makes it possible to avoid certain error of judgments, especially at the professional level, or the speed of play is very high.
Grass
The grass is the oldest surface of tennis. It is used with the very prestigious tournament of Wimbledon. The grass, contrary to the beaten ground, is a very fast surface, with the rebound low and not very sensitive to the printed effects with the ball (especially with the top spin). Its speed supports the attackers, and the large waiters, which can strike a very great number of aces (gaining services) during the same match. The grass leaves only little place to the long exchanges, and the majority of the players do not hesitate to come to finish the points with the net. One finds besides with the prize list of Wimbledon of very many waiter-volley-ball players such as Pete Sampras, or Boris Becker.
Unfortunately, the grass is a surface which requires much maintenance, which explains why few clubs have courts in grass, and that those are less and less numerous. Besides the season on grass does not last any more but one month at the professionals.
Hard surfaces
Surfaces known as " dures" constitute the majority of the courts which one finds in the clubs. They are as a whole rather fast. The major difference is done especially on the height level of the rebound. The main advantage which one finds with these surfaces is the fact that they claim only little maintenance. They are on the other hand demanding enough for the articulations, and ask good supports. These surfaces remain moreover rather neutral, which means that they do not support really a certain type of players (indeed, waiters volley-ball players are found as basic players of runs to the prize list of the majority of the tournaments) even if the true beaten ground amateurs can find these courts too fast compared to ocher surface.
The season on hard surface constitutes the major part of professional calendar (approximately eight month out of the 11 if only the major tournaments are considered, and besides if one counts the tournaments which take place in room in this category), one finds there the two last liftings of the four tournaments of the Grand Slam, the US Open played on Decoturf (near of cement) and the Open of Australia, which is played on Rebound Ace. The courts which one finds in the clubs are as for them often out of cement, or " quick" , and have the advantage of drying very quickly after possible bad weather.
Synthetic surfaces
Synthetic surfaces are found mainly in the rooms, and the tournaments of end of season indoor . They are several types: Gerflor, fitted carpet, and sometimes parquet floor. The feelings of play on synthetic surface are appreciably the same ones as on hard surfaces, with the only difference which them position in room allows a play without influence of the wind. However, synthetic surfaces are very demanding for the articulations, and require an important maintenance, which explains why they are not very widespread in the clubs.
The tournaments exploited synthetic surface occupy the end of season, at one time when the climate is refreshed, i.e. in November and October (Masters Series of Madrid and Masters Series of Paris Bercy). The Masters Cup of Shanghai, which gathers the eight best players of the world and closes the season is also exploited it synthetic surface.
See too
Internal bonds