What can we learn from the red clay?? Clay courters are comfortable with long and draining points. They don't try to end the point to soon because they are confident in their ability to cover the court and their endurance. We should embrace their on court strategy by hitting the ball high over the net with heavy topspin and find patience in our points instead of the anxiety of hitting a winner. Use your variety to wear your opponent down.
For us girls, Justine Henin is the leading lady of clay courts. She hasn't played any of the few warm up tournaments but her game will be sharp by the middle of May. She doesn't let her size or lack of power slow her down. Rather she combines fitness, patience and big topspin ground strokes for a winning strategy!
James Blake lost that finals match to a young man from Barcelona who had never made it past the quarterfinals. He grinded his way through the match knowing he could outlast the American. Do you have that confidence? Are you fit enough and patient enough to still be fresh late in the match? See if you can embrace the clay court and bring it to your game!
