It's Blue!

http://www.madrid-open.com/en/la-caja-magica/como-se-fabrica-la-tierra-azul/

Its a conspiracy to confuse Rafa

Seems like the players aren't too happy about it
http://www.thetennisspace.com/on-court/blue-clay-miscellany/

Will Tiriac's gimmick win them over once they've played on it? I suspect the finalists will be very diplomatic about it once it's over. Any shock early-round losers might be more forth-coming.

RG next I suppose

Yes indeed. It's definitely blue.

But the actual reason behind the choice of colour is, sadly, nowhere near as exciting as potential conspiracy theories involving Rafa.

It's simply the fact that the 'official' corporate colours of Mutua Madrilena are blue. When the decision was taken to switch from HC to clay (around 3/4 years ago...?) their sponsorship agreement included - AFAIK - a clause giving the option to use a blue variation of the traditional red stuff.

Meanwhile, thanks to HE for the link on the actual production process. It looks really good ; so good in fact, that armed with this information I'm half-minded to convert one of the two beautifully-manicured grass courts in my own back garden.....

lags

I do trust you realise I said that in jest dont you..?? Though I think like you say it makes a better story

Yes of course I do H-n

But I do love a good conspiracy theory.. bright yellow next year, I hear ..... a favourite colour of Rafa
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=pictures+rafa+nadal&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=640&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsoa&tbnid=mslY8exa4MXPpM:&imgrefurl=http://rafanadal.tk/&docid=KSi5DrTd_0HauM&imgurl=http://rafanadal.tk/images/tennis/4.jpg&w=357&h=400&ei=rRihT7nNH8WE4gTro5DbCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=190&vpy=4&dur=1049&hovh=238&hovw=212&tx=98&ty=107&sig=114727556305286367288&page=3&tbnh=147&tbnw=131&start=43&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:43,i:207

Do you think Roger is trying to make some sort of statement with this oufit... or is it a ploy to get another win against Rafa on clay?

http://www.perfect-tennis.co.uk/federer-outfit-for-madrid-and-rome-2012/

Now that I think of it maybe Rafa should do the same... Tiriac would be fuming as television viewers complain about the lack of visibility.

I think Rafa is being wise ... dont rock the boat .. Tiriac is is he not the Godfather... the Madrid "mafia"

Players don't like to see change when they have comfortable careers in the current strcture, I would be the same if I was them. It is not going to make a big difference though. Don't worry Rafalitos.

Speaking for the ·Rafilitos" as you so quaintly put it.. Im not in the least bit worried... speak to the Djokovites Im sure at the end of the day The colour of the court will be secondary to the winner

Doesn't Houston use blue? And somewhere on the girls' circuit they play some blue muck. What's the difference between red and blue anyways?

Well if you dont know then you are colour blind

What's the difference between red and blue anyways?

One looks like a field of smurfs the other looks like clay..

JuliusHMarx wrote:Seems like the players aren't too happy about it
http://www.thetennisspace.com/on-court/blue-clay-miscellany/

Will Tiriac's gimmick win them over once they've played on it? I suspect the finalists will be very diplomatic about it once it's over. Any shock early-round losers might be more forth-coming.

That will be a shame if you're right. The very best person to comment frankly is the winner.

Tiriac got his way making the colour of the court blue... Madrid with Smurf Turf... employing Models as Ball girls (I ask you) I hope all the players dress in blue... and Id love some bright spark to dye the balls Blue... should make for good viewing .. picture if you will these classy models chasing round the court looking for blue balls on blue clay Sorry just having a senior moment

Sounds like you're getting yourself a little over-excited there H-n ........

It's only tennis

If its only tennis why cant Tiriac use regularl trained ball boys ... what a circus

Methinks you might be the first person (whether player, spectator or broadcaster ....) to actually complain about the famous Madrid ball-girls

As for training : they've always looked pretty efficient to me

Well lags I have no doubt whatsoever there isn´t a man on the forum, in the stand, or watcing on tv that wouldn´t prefer to see a model running around after a ball... whether tennis or no Equally a group of fellas like the Chipendales could do the job just as well IMO and I doubt you would hear the females complaining either . However I doubt that Tiriac would find them anywhere near as entertaining

NB Remember this didn´t start as a serious debate
I have never liked Tiriac past or present.

I have never liked Tiriac past or present.

Im sure he's gutted.

Well Josiah I suppose you had your reasons for that trite little post.. but as I said It was never meant to be a serious discussion to start with from my part .. so you can take the credit for it ending on such a high note...

The models are by far the most interesting thing about the Madrid open.

Id love to see yellow courts.

Have just looked at the infamous blue Madrid courts on television for the first time.(that is after all what they have been coloured for).

My impression is they look very dark, very cold and very very blue. Having the backdrops the same colour as the court emphasises the blueness. The stadium courts look like they are indoors. It would have been fun to be transported visually to sunny Madrid from the cold and gloom of this country but sadly that's not to be...

Nothing to do with the blueness but the acoustics make it sound like it's indoors too. The umpires voice echoes as if he's talking from inside a metal box... maybe because apart from a small hole in the roof he is. Big problem with shadows make it difficult and a bit annoying to follow.

Article in the telegraph yesterday...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/9250311/Players-unhappy-with-Smurf-blue-clay-courts-at-Madrid-Masters.html

Ion Tiriac has put himself in the limelight which was his sole purpose its a show and he is only interested in making money.. I doubt from reading one of his interviews that he could name more that half a dozen players. I would have thought that the ATP should have been more concerned about the safety aspect.

Billionaire's tend to get their way and so they have blue this year - and great PR for Mr Tiriac...but...I'm pretty sure they'll be back to red clay next year. Also, the Madrid stadium courts have always looked cold places to me, shells with no character to them. And now they look even colder.

The models thing is more PR stuntery...and Tiriac has been doing that for years now. Smacks of desperation to make himself heard really...so now we have models, blue clay...what next year? Red clay one side, blue clay the other...or naked umpires? Who knows...

However....the biggest worry this year is the actual condition of the court and its slippiness...preparing clay courts is no mean feat. If one player gets an injury due to it being over slippy then Tiriac will have problems on his hands make no mistake. He already has with many top players complaining before they've played a match on it.

As I say it'll be back to red next year - naked umpires or not.

I think naked umpires would just put the players off.

What a waste when there are models are scampering about on court encumbered by entirely unnecessary clothing.

indeed reckoner...I'm sure Tiriac would push those boundaries if he was allowed to!

reckoner

Why is it you men always want it your way Ive no objection to naked umpires

whatever floats your boat, haddie!

lydian wrote: indeed reckoner...I'm sure Tiriac would push those boundaries if he was allowed to!

lol lydian, I'll bet, he's a bit like Sepp Blatter in that regard, remember this?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jan/16/football.gender

reckoner wrote:whatever floats your boat, haddie!

Well it would relieve the monotony during an Isner/Karlovic Match... when its necessary to check the line calls :roll:

Haddie-nuff wrote:

reckoner wrote:whatever floats your boat, haddie!

Well it would relieve the monotony during an Isner/Karlovic Match... when its necessary to check the line calls

boredom is no excuse for gerontophilia!

Now reckoner... I left that to YOUR imagination... I was merely pointing out the fact that sometimes a match between those two can get boring...I was thinking of the crowd .. as for me I go off and make a

we all know means you're off to flick through your collection of candid photos of umpires through the ages... enjoy!

With the womens game they could introduce cat fights... seems to work in ice hockey, no?

Seriously I enjoy some of the womens tennis, especially Wickmayer, Schiavone and Prionkova.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:With the womens game they could introduce cat fights... seems to work in ice hockey, no?

Seriously I enjoy some of the womens tennis, especially Wickmayer, Schiavone and Prionkova.

Wow I am super impressed with Priankova's game!

I really admire Pironkova's skill and composure, you can tell she was naturally gifted at the earliest of age. Barring series of injuries, I can see a GS in her hands in the near future.

lol reckoner...yep, seems Blatter firmly comes out of the Belusconi school of gender relations.

Visualisations of nakeds umpire climbing down, and running over to check clay marks then climbing back up their chairs isnt a great one

Got to admire Schiavone's spirit JM

The image of all the women in the crowd shouting O U T on every serve is can you imagine how long the match will take to complete.

Now stop THERE... the mind boggles

Some people claim that the clay at Wimbledon is green.

Anyway I hope someone keeps track on possible injuries due to slipping on the blue clay of Madrid - this seems to be the biggest concern for some.

Now that the sun is shining it's interesting to see how the strength of blueness is giving everyone a sort of blueish purple skin tone...

Djoko not happy with the courts - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18000107

Oddly, the ATP site fails to mention that part of the interview

I've never seen a clay court this fast. It seems quite a bit faster even than this same tournament last year.

Yea. The surface is similar to the cushions on a crucible snooker table. Comes off quicker than before impact!

Haddie-nuff wrote:Well lags I have no doubt whatsoever there isn´t a man on the forum, in the stand, or watcing on tv that wouldn´t prefer to see a model running around after a ball... whether tennis or no Equally a group of fellas like the Chipendales could do the job just as well IMO and I doubt you would hear the females complaining either . However I doubt that Tiriac would find them anywhere near as entertaining

NB Remember this didn´t start as a serious debate
I have never liked Tiriac past or present.

Or even some of the males, myself included, if the Chippendales were employed as ball boys!