Wimbledon 2014: Your guide to the Tennis Grand Slams

Strawberries and cream, Pimms and a Royal audience… A summer of Wimbledon tennis tradition is fast approaching and, along with it, the British hope for Andy Murray to retain his title following his triumphant win last year. The third of four tennis Grand Slam events, Wimbledon is the quintessential English experience held in London from June to July every year. For many, Wimbledon is the real highlight of the tennis calendar where the patriotic atmosphere is like no other. One of the major traditions of the tournament is the surface on which the tennis is played on. As opposed to the other three Grand Slams, the athletes at Wimbledon play on real grass courts, fitting with the origins of the game. This natural tennis court design means the ball bounces lower and faster, giving a disadvantage to topspin players and an advantage to people who hit the ball flat. Renowned for his top performance on grass tennis surfaces, Andy Murray is a player who utilises the qualities of a grass court to beat his competitors. Following his victorious win at Wimbledon last year, Murray Mania is set to take over Britain again this summer, supporting the Scot to bring home the coveted trophy!

Grand Slam Sport Surfaces

With grass being the surface choice for the tennis courts at Wimbledon, the other Grand Slam events use different materials which have varying characteristics: – The French Open: uses red clay courts – The Australian Open: uses a fully cushioned Acrylic Surface – The US Open: uses a hard court surface

The French Open

Instantly identifiable by its traditional deep, red-coloured court, the French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay and is the largest clay tennis competition in the world. Held at Roland Garros, Paris from May to June, the French Open is the second Grand Slam event to take place every year and has been home to some of the most iconic moments in tennis history. Known as the clear clay-court champion of our generation, Rafael Nadal won his eighth French Open title just last year, increasing his record dominance in the event and marking his return back to form following injury. Hard courts are the most common tennis court design at tennis clubs and sports centres for both indoor and outdoor courts. The smooth, firm surface of the hard court causes less friction which, in turn, makes it one of the fastest surfaces available. These attributes have also made this surface a popular choice for global tennis competitions, notably the Australian Open and U.S Open.

The Australian Open

Held in Melbourne every January, the Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year, setting the pace and building the anticipation for the following three Grand Slam events. The courts are made of a manufactured surface which is similar to the surface used at the US Open but it has more cushioning. Although this extra body may give players more of a spring in their step, problems can arise when the surface heats up as it has even more give to it which can result in ankle injuries.

The US Open

In comparison to this, the faster hard court surface used at the US Open held in New York is renowned for having slightly less friction and producing a lower bounce. It is because of this that many serve-and-volley players such as Pete Sampras and John McEnroe have found success at the US Open in the past. Here at Charles Lawrence, we understand how important it is to have the ideal tennis playing surface to suit your individual performance, preference and budgetary requirements. This is why we offer an extensive range of tried-and-tested tennis court surfaces tailored to your needs. Our list of tennis court services include: – Court Installation – Court Re-surfacing – Court Renovation – Court Maintenance Our wealth of experience in the development of sports surfaces across the country means we have the knowledge and expertise to find the ideal court solution for you. Why not give us a call today for further information or advice about any of the products or services we provide?