Tennis: Madrid blasts ATP over blue-clay ban

MADRID: Madrid Masters supremo Ion Tiriac blasted the ATP for banning the blue clay used at his tournament. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both said that they would not return in 2013 if the surface did not revert to red clay, a key warm-up for the French Open. “I am very disappointed by the decision taken by the ATP,” said Tiriac. “The blue colour is one thing and the quality of the court in 2012 in Madrid is a different one. The various studies and feedback show that between the blue colour and the yellow ball the contrast is greater than any other combination.  In my opinion the future is blue, but for this the players and the governing bodies of our sport have to be convinced.”

Published In The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2012.