Slipping and Sliding...
That need for excellent movement is best exemplified by having the ability to “slide” around the courts.
The game’s natural sliders—players such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer among the men and Kim Clijsters and Francesca Schiavone for the women—make it seem as no ball can be hit out of their reach on a clay court.
“Your footwork and balance on clay are probably more important than on any other surface,” says longtime coach Nick Bollettieri, who has seen a number of his pupils past and present—from Monica Seles to Andre Agassi to Jelena Jankovic—post solid clay‐court results. Embrace the fact that the ball kicks up into their strike zone enough for them to put their opponents on the run.
The Art of the Slide
So long rain we oh so hope as we move into the last week of competition before Roland Garros. Our tourneys this week are:
ATP
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| The Boss |
Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon ATP 250Velodrome Georges PreveralLyon, FranceMay 21 – 27, 2023
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| Daniil Medvedev - He may not love clay but is doing fine thank you! The 2023 Italian Open winner! |
Surface: Clay
Draw: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This is the 6th edition of the tournament. It was an indoor hard-court tourney from 1987-2009 and returned to the ATP calendar as a clay-court tournament in 2017.
Defending champion: Cameron Norrie who defeated Alex Molcan.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Felix Auger-Aliassime, Cameron Norrie, Tommy Paul,
Francisco Cerundolo, Miomir Kecmanovic, Sebastian Baez, Richard Gasquet,
Brandon Nakashima
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: French players Arthur Fils and Gael Monfils, plus Felix Auger-Aliassime
Withdrawals: Include Pablo Carreno Busta, Alex Molcan, Yoshihito Nishioka
Gonet Geneva Open ATP 250Tennis Club de GeneveGeneva, SwitzerlandMay 21-May 27, 2023
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| Gael Monfils - sliding specialist. He slides on every surface - a lot! |
Surface: Clay
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This is the 20th edition of the tournament.
Defending champion: Casper Ruud who defeated Joao Sousa.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Ben Shelton, Tallon Griekspoor, Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Adrian Mannarino
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: Grigor Dimitrov, Benoit Paire, Alexander Zverev
Protected ranking: Hugo Dellien, Guido Pella
Withdrawals: Include Denis Shapovalov, Jan-Lennard Struff, Botic van de Zandschulp
WTA
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| Sveltana Kuznetsova - A sliding specialist! |
Internationaux de Strasbourg WTA 250Tennis Club de StrasbourgStrasbourg, FranceMay 21 -27, 2023
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| Kimmy was a boss on clay. She loved to slide and did not save her sliding for just clay courts. |
Surface: Clay
Draws: Singles 32, doubles 16
This is the 37th edition of the tournament.
2022 champion: Angelique Kerber who defeated Kaja Juvan. Angie is on maternity leave, so is unable to play in the tourney.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Magda Linette, Elise Mertens, Zhang Shuai, Bernarda Pera, Sorana Cirstea, Varvara Gracheva, Lauren Davis, Jil Teichmann.
Wildcards: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elina Svitolina.
Withdrawals: Amanda Anisimova, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Anhelina Kalinina.
Grand Prix Son Altesse Royale La Princesse LallaMeryem WTA 250Club de Cheminots, Rabat, MoroccoMay 21-27, 2023
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| Simona could slide with the best of them.... |
Surface : Clay
Draws : Singles 32, Doubles 16
This is the 21st edition of the tournament.
Defending champion: Martina Trevisan who defeated Claire Liu.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Martina Trevisan, Sloane Stephens, Mayar Sherif, Alycia Parks, Leylah Fernandez, Yulia Putintseva, Linda Fruhvirtova, Maria Tatjana
Wildcards: Players from Morocco – Malak El Allami, Aya El Aouni, plus Vera Zvonareva
Protected ranking: Sara Sorribes Tormo
Withdrawals: Include Anna Bondar, Maria Sakkari, Ajla Tomljanovic
As always Missy Hartt - Thank you for your research.
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