Tennis enthusiasts recently engaged in a passionate debate following a statement by respected journalist Ben Rothenberg, who claimed that players lacked creativity on clay courts, with stamina and perseverance being the main factors for success on the surface. Clay is one of the predominant surfaces on the ATP calendar, following hard courts, with 21 events taking place on clay courts in the 2024 schedule. The clay-court season starts with the Monte-Carlo Masters in early April and concludes with the French Open in early June.
Rothenberg shared his opinion on X (formerly known as Twitter), stating that clay courts primarily emphasized stamina and grinding, offering no opportunity for players to be creative. He expressed a preference for faster courts where players could display unique styles and low-power aggression. Fans were quick to criticize his viewpoint, with one pointing out how clay tennis showcases more variety and point construction, forcing players to use their full range of skills and the entire court. Others highlighted the technical nuances needed to play on clay.
While some fans agreed with Rothenberg, it is worth noting that many renowned players have found success on clay elusive, such as Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, and Boris Becker, who never won a French Open title. On the other hand, Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg have both excelled on clay surfaces, with both players utilizing topspin shots to great effect.
