With the U.S. Open Tennis Championships imminent at the time of this writing, do you know what kind of court the tournament is played on (both now and in its long history dating back to 1881)? In the following paragraphs, we take a look at the three major types of court for those who may be slightly ignorant to all things tennis surface.
Grass Court
The most traditional type of tennis court surface is that consisting of natural grass. Tennis played on grass used to be called “lawn tennis.” So while it is the oldest court type, it just so happens to also be the fastest. The reason for this is that the grass offers a slippery surface, meaning that the ball can develop speed as it bounces off the surface. And because the grass is obviously softer than its clay or hard-court surface counterparts, the tennis balls bounce less. The result of this is quicker, lower-to-the-ground rallies.
Nevertheless, the slippery surface also heightens the risk of injury to the players. Many professionals do not like tournaments held on grass for this reason. However, there is also the fact that there are more variables to contend with on grass than the other playing surfaces. This can include the wear and tear of the court and whether the grass is healthy or not.
The only tennis Grand Slam still played on grass is Wimbledon, which has used this court type since the championship began back in 1877. The time, effort, and cost that goes into the upkeep of the Wimbledon courts is significant. The U.S. Open used grass courts between 1881 and 1974. Then, after complaints about the ball’s bounce, the tournament switched to clay courts.
Clay Court
Clay-surfaced tennis courts are made of crushed stone, brick, or shale. This crushed material is packed to make the court surface. The color can vary depending on the exact brick or stone used, but most are predominantly orange or red. There are some green clay courts in the U.S., where crushed metabasalt is used rather than brick.
Clay courts produce slower play than grass or hard courts, but they are still challenging to players because of higher-bouncing tennis balls. Another thing with clay courts, is when the ball bounces on the court, an impression is left behind. This can often be helpful in deciding whether a shot was in or out. There are those players that don’t like the havoc clay wreaks with their tennis shoes. The clay builds up on the bottom of the shoes and so needs removing frequently.
The French Open is the only Grand Slam to have used clay courts since its inception in 1891. The U.S. Open changed to clay in 1975 but this wasn’t to last for long. Just three years later, the tournament moved location to its current home and a new type of court.
Hard Court
Hard tennis courts are made of a rigid material such as concrete or asphalt with an acrylic resin layered over the top. This acrylic layer seals the surface and allows the playing lines to be marked. You’ll see these surfaces in a variety of colors, but blue is currently the most popular. The U.S. Open switched from green hard courts to blue in 2005 so that both the players and spectators could see the tennis balls better.
Many players prefer this type of court. They benefit from a greater consistency of bounce and some cushioning from the acrylic layer. The tennis balls tend to bounce high as well. Speed-wise, hard courts appear to be in that “Goldilocks zone” for most players. They are slower than grass courts but faster than clay. The vast majority of professionals like playing hard-court tennis.
The Australian Open has used hard courts since 1988, using the GreenSet brand. The U.S. Open adopted hard courts in 1978; since 2020 they have used the Laykold brand. This was the first time that the court manufacturer had been changed since switching to hard courts in 1978. But whoever the brand behind the courts might be, it looks like hard courts are set to stay for the Grand Slam tournament.
Court Types and Players
All three types of tennis court are used across the world in both minor and major championships. If you like to partake in tennis betting, it’s important to check what type of court is used before placing your bet on a specific player. For example, serve-and-volley players thrive more on grass courts while baseline players tend to flourish on clay courts. Hard courts are suitable for both types.
As you have probably gathered, the surface of a tennis court can really affect the outcome of a tennis match. Professionals will always carefully consider the court surface before playing a match. The height and speed of the ball bounce, paired with how slippery, smooth, or cushioned a surface is affects their game considerably. Players will perform better on some surfaces than others. And for the spectator, this only heightens their enjoyment of this great game.
