It says clay on the ATP site, so I know what I think it's being played on ...

Come on Flanagan!!!

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard for some time now.

This is steven's guide to Indian courts:

 

http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings.avkids.com/wings.avkids.com/Curriculums/Tennis/court_summary.html "In India, courts are even made from hard packed cow dung! The court should be level and smooth, but there are not other specified rules about the surface."

http://www.tennisaustralia.com.au/pages/article.aspx?id=4&articleid=ArticleID2006915152820&pageId=8419&HandlerId=1 "Fraser vividly recalls playing India the previous year in Chennai (then Madras ) on a clay surface with cow dung rolled into it to hold it together. ..."

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2002/07/14/stories/2002071400080200.htm "Not only is the case for retention of the grass surface water-tight, there is a strong case for changing the surface of one of the two Grand Slams which use identical surfaces, the Australian or the U.S.. That way, each major tournament will have its own distinctive character, with different tactics and styles of play needed to do well. Obviously that would be a greater challenge to players (something Pierce does not seem to want), and consequently increase spectator interest. What could that surface be? Cow dung. Don't laugh: cow dung mixed with earth has been used in India for years. It's a faster surface than red clay and it's faster than artificial turf, but slower than grass"

 

R1: Ian Flanagan WR 658 v (6) Todor Enev (BUL) WR 597

The kind of match Flan needs to win if he wants to move up the rankings, though with nearly all of his points due to come off next month, it's more of a damage limitation exercise at the moment.

Interesting. Thanks a lot, Steven.

I don't think that there's any reason to bash Amadeus. I admire the amount of hard work he puts in tennis. Living in India, I know very well how hard life is at Futures level in second and third world countries.

Sad to see that he is retiring. Best of luck to whatever he does in the future.




Is it true, by the way?


Amadeus played a strange part in life without realising and wanting to....

-- Edited by Arka at 13:44, 2007-01-29