They initially built grass cats, but due to the hot Mediterranean climate, the lawns fell into disrepair much faster than in the UK, and Renshaw decided to modify them. Nearby was located the pottery center - Vallori (local deposits of clay were used by the Gauls and Romans). William and Ernest began dusting their courts with dust, a by-product of ceramic production. Gradually, such courts began to gain popularity.

In 1909, the British company "EN TOUT CAS" was the first in the construction of clay courts to make a covering (surface) layer from a mixture of clay and tile chips. Tiled crumbs significantly improved the passage of water through the surface. The company gave the name “Fast-Dry Court” to its innovation.

In 1927, Charles Bouhama proposed the use of limestone underlayment to improve overall drainage, as well as to improve the fixation and softening of the cover layer. This technology was used to build courts at Roland Garros in 1928.

The left photo shows the laying of layers of soil covering the Roland Garros courts (fine gravel can be used instead of slag).

The thicker the top layer, the smaller its fraction and the more moistened it is, the slower the ball bounces. This feature is often used by the host side at the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup, when their team is weaker than the opponent, because. slow coverage does not make it possible to win balls with one or two strong attacking shots.

Unlike artificial turf (except for artificial turf), the ground allows the player to slide on the turf (Slip Resistance) when braking - the player, as it were, drives up to the ball, preparing to hit.

Clay courts are currently red and green. The most common red soil ( Clay Court or Continental Clay), which we usually call “tennisitis”.

"Tennisit" has the ability to quickly pass through itself excess water (in the rain) and at the same time up to 2-2.5 hours to maintain the necessary moisture. The composition of "tennisit" includes crushed (powdered) red clay, brick (tiled) chips, slaked lime and special additives. For the manufacture of crumbs, semi-dry pressing bricks should be used, the distinguishing feature of which is the absence of sharp solid particles (the main difference between semi-dry pressing and plastic pressing is that the raw material is dried before firing, then crushed into powder followed by pressing at higher pressure).

It is "tennisit" that is used at Roland Garros (the unofficial world championship on clay courts). Despite the fact that the cover layer is quite thin, every year about 850 kg of "tennisite" is used to backfill each court of the Roland Garros tennis stadium.

Tennis courts are most popular in post-Soviet countries, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France. There is a court surface - draining, where there is no clay, among other components. Such court coverage prevails mainly in Sweden and Germany. In Mexico, sifted crushed stone of volcanic rock is used as a crumb ( Tepetate), and in the Crimea, because of its cheapness, pink marble sand.

The main feature of such courts is a soft surface and a slow rebound of the ball. It allows, unlike other coatings, to reduce the load on the joints and ligaments of the legs. The slow rebound speed of the ball characteristic of the ground (Surface Pace tests) makes it possible to better control the ball in preparation for the strike and keep it in play longer. By saturating the clay courts with water to varying degrees, you can control the speed of the ball bounce.

According to experts, the temperature on the ground surface of a tennis court in hot weather is 20% lower than on asphalt or concrete surfaces. A comfortable microclimate arises above the clay court due to the constant moistening of the coating.

The disadvantages of clay courts include not always an even rebound of the ball ( author's note - How and with what is marking done on clay courts).

Green soil(actually it is gray with a green tint) “Har-Tru” ( Har Tru) or “American soil” ( American Clay) is similar to classic red, but due to the very fine crumb fraction (almost dust), it is denser, and therefore faster than red. Instead of brick chips, it uses a green basalt mineral (diabase is a volcanic rock) mined in the Blue Ridge quarry (Virginia), which is not processed, and is only crushed into a fine fraction.

The coating does not retain water, the top layer does not soften, and does not rise under the influence of negative temperatures. Thus, Har-Tru allows you to extend the season by 2-3 months. It can be used for both outdoor and indoor courts. Moreover, in the latter case, its use is justified by the fact that dust and suspension do not appear from it, which are inevitable when playing tennis.

This coating can be laid over asphalt or concrete. It has an unlimited period of use. The more green courts are used, the more even the rebound becomes. Har-Tru dries quickly and is easy to maintain. With the active use of the court for 6 months, no more than 400 kg of bedding is required (for red soil - 1.5-2 tons). For example, 1 worker is enough to service 12 green courts (at least 4 people for red clay).

Courts based on "Har-Tru", as a rule, have a slope for water runoff.

More than 30 thousand Har-Tru courts have been built in 24 countries of the world. They are even available at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ( author's note - 8 courts with green ground, 19 - grass, 7 - hard, of which 5 are indoor). Most popular in the southeastern United States. In 2004, the ITF allowed Davis Cup matches to be played on the Har Tru surface.

In the right photo, the new courts (four courts) on the roof of the National Tennis Center of Canada in Montreal were tested in August 2011 by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

In 2012, the owner of the Mutua Madrid Open, Romanian Ion Tiriac, covered the courts with blue clay so that the color of the surface would be in harmony with the color of the title sponsor of the tournament, the insurance company Mutua Madrilena ( more).

At present, a ground cover layer (of all colors) is sprinkled on top with crumb rubber or plastic, which can also be used in a clay crumb mixture (“tennisite”).

Characteristics of clay courts

Characteristics	ITF recommendations in %
Ball rebound speed (Surface Pace tests)
Slip resistance	60 - short; 110 - high
Traction force	0,6 - slippery; 1,8 – high degree of grip
Shock absorption (Shlock Absorption)	5–12 – low; 13–20 – average; 21–30 - high
The ability of the coating to provide the required ball rebound (Vertical Ball Rebound)	80 - low return; 100 – preferred level; 110 - high returns

The advantage of the soil is: durability, ease of repair and renewal of the surface.

Flaws:

• mandatory watering of the court in the summer season;
• inability to operate for several hours after a downpour or prolonged rain;
• at sub-zero temperatures, the moisture in the limestone layer freezes and the coating swells, protruding plastic marking lines;
• spring rolling of the court with a skating rink 400-500 kg;
• the most expensive service.

Grass (Grass)

The first tennis courts were grassy, ​​and the game was originally called lawn tennis (“lawn” from English – lawn, lawn). At the beginning of the 19th century, grass courts were mainly built in Great Britain, the USA, Canada, and Australia. At one time, three of the four majors (except Roland Garros) were played on grass (Wimbledon from 1877; US Open 1887-1974; Australian Open 1905-1987). To date, grass court tournaments are held at Wimbledon (ITF), Halle (Germany, ATP), Queens (just as Wimbledon is a suburb of London, ATP), Eastbourne (England, ATP, WTA), Hertogenbosch (Holland , Asia-Pacific, WTA), Birmingham (England, WTA), Newport (USA, Asia-Pacific), Stuttgart (Germany, ATP) . And since 2017 in Antalya (Türkiye, Asia-Pacific).

Grass is the fastest surface used in major competitions. Faster than grass, only some types of artificial turf for halls. The rebound is very low, and if you can change the rebound speed of the ball of other surfaces by adding various components to their composition, then you can change the rebound speed from the grass only due to the direction of growth of the blades of grass and their height. For example, on the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon), the grass is cut short - 8 mm (since 1995). But, nevertheless, the organizers of the tournament managed to reduce CPR, which allowed the "king of the soil" Rafael Nadal (Rafael Nadal) twice (2008, 2010) to win it.

The following video presents an interesting observation of the change in speed and height of the ball after the bounce, which was transformed over 5 years (2003-2008) when Roger Federer single-handedly dominated Wimbledon.

So that the ball bounce is not even lower, the soil is kept dry throughout the game day (the grass is not watered).

On grass, the probability of incorrect rebound is slightly higher than on other surfaces. This happens when the ball hits either a bump, or a large bush, or a crushed or trampled area.

The main disadvantage of turf is that its playability depends on the state of the grass. For example, by the end of the Wimbledon tournament, the courts lose half their grass cover.

7-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras spoke quite accurately about grass courts: “ Wimbledon are two completely different tournaments. And it is played on the grass, only the first of them”.

Dismantling the old turf

The grass is grown in well fertilized and granular (sandy) soil. As for the cultivar, based on research conducted by The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club uses hard-wearing, long-lasting Perennial Ryegrass grass. The removal of grass is carried out according to a special technology (see video below), which is kept secret. When the English are asked how to make a real grass court, they answer: “ It's very simple. You need to take a special kind of grass and sow a leveled area with it. After a while, cover the site with a small layer of soil and sow the grass again. And so several times. As soon as the grass grows, it must be cut and watered every day for ... 100 years. That's when you get a real court”.

During the Wimbledon tournament, after the end of each game day (approximately 21.30), the courts are watered and covered with a waterproof translucent cover ( translucent - to allow daylight to penetrate). They cover it so that in hot weather the moisture from the soil does not evaporate, and in rainy weather the turf does not get wet. The cover on the central and first courts, where the coverage area is the largest, weighs about 1 ton.

Watering for each court is individual, and is determined by the condition of the turf, tested by STRI specialists, who measure daily throughout the tournament. In addition, at Wimbledon, the first Sunday is a day off for participants. On this non-playing day, the courts are flooded abundantly with water so that the grass can hold out until the end of the tournament. The approach is also individual - it all depends on the weather forecast for the next week. The volume of watering can be 3-10 times the daily amount. In general, up to 160 tons of water will be consumed during the two weeks of the championship.

The central court has an irrigation system of retractable sprinkler nozzles, controlled remotely. Other courts are watered by hand.

On each tournament morning, grass is cut, rolled ( roller weight 200 or 250 kg depending on turf moisture) and updating the markup.

For marking the court (painting lines), a special marking machine and paint based on acrylic polymer with natural filler and the addition of titanium dioxide (to increase durability) are used ( ed. – Previously, chalk or slaked lime was used).

The halls are not covered with grass, although the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has a retractable roof over the center court ( it is planned to build a retractable roof over court No. 1 by 2018).

It is quite traumatic. Any awkward movement can lead to a fall. When you watch Wimbledon, you pay attention to how many players, sliding on the grass, lose control of their movement ( ed.– Some players, like Novak Djokovic, often use the slide in the pre-kick phase, others, like Roger Federer, approach the ball like playing hard). The real danger arises when the legs involuntarily spread in opposite directions (as in a split), causing increased stress on the knee and ankle joints and their ligaments. Grass is especially dangerous if wet. Therefore, for it to dry quickly, there must be a good drainage system (author's note. There was a case when, in order to prepare a wet court for the US Open-1969 final, it was dried by a helicopter ( video).

Due to the need for special care (constant watering and mowing, fertilization, protection from diseases), low wear resistance and regenerability, the limited life span of the grass, and the need to constantly update the marking lines, grass courts are currently practically not built. True, with regard to recoverability, as practice has shown, the courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club after Wimbledon 2012 were prepared for the 2012 Olympic Games in twenty days.

The English daily newspaper "Daily Mail" quotes (07/21/2018) the statements of the former first racket of Great Britain, and now a member of the Wimbledon Management Committee, Tim Henman (Tim Henman): " Ideally, we would play four matches a day on Center Court and on Court No. 1. But we must not forget that this is a natural surface, grass. She must last 13 in-game days, and if she is "killed" in the first week, then serious problems will arise further.

Now the Wimbledon tournament is investing a lot of money in creating a hybrid version - partly with artificial grass. Similar is used in football and rugby. We need to understand at what percentage of artificial grass tennis courts will look and function normally.

Several tennis generations ago in America, Australia, India there were a lot of grass courts, but they "died out" because of the need for serious maintenance, because of the financial costs of this, because of the requirements for their quality".

Hard (Hard)

This is a common name for a type of sports artificial surfaces, which combines a number of surfaces produced in different countries and having very significant differences (in functional properties, quality, prices). And the Hard tennis surface is a system of acrylic layers arrangement to create certain technical characteristics of the court surface. Therefore, the professional term for this type of sports surface used in tennis is "Hard Surface System".

It consists of:

• the base layer, which is an asphalt (asphalt-concrete) base on open courts, and a concrete base for indoor courts. Pouring on floor coverings from "Regupol" (Regupol) or "Kraiburg Relastek" (Kraiburg Relastec) (these are coverings from the crushed rubber crumb), and even on the wooden basis is possible. In these cases, a special reinforcing mesh is used;
• bulk leveling layer (Acrylic Resurfacer) in black;
• one or more bulk softening color layers (Unirubber Cushioned Color);
• finishing layer (Precoat) with marking lines (Tex Line).

The bulk layers are made from rubber or rubber granules in a combination of different fractions, and the binder is an acrylic or other polyurethane emulsion. Softening layers can also be made of poured rubber or a seamless regupol carpet (a fairly common option). The composition of the upper layer includes melted and polished quartz sand.

The technology of applying bulk layers provides for minimal deviations of the court plane from a perfectly flat one. This is done by the base leveling system and the method of layer-by-layer coating by “pouring” in perpendicular directions.

There are two main varieties of Hard:

• "Clean Hard" - "Classic" system with 3 layers (without softening layers): a leveling layer (Acrylic Resurfacer) (for filling cracks, creating a carrier layer) and two functional color finish layers (Acrylic Precoat). Used in professional tennis.
• "Hard Cushion" - systems: "Comfort" with 6 layers (3 emollients) and "Premium" with 9 layers (6 emollients). As additional layers, bulk rubber (Acrylic Cushion) or a combination of different fractions of rubber granules is used. It is more comfortable for the legs, significantly reduces the load on the ligaments and joints of the legs, and reduces the risk of injury.

"Clean Hard" may have a different number of softening layers. There are coatings with 8 softening layers.

The total thickness of the poured layers is 3.5-5.5 mm.

The multi-layer coating in combination with the system of functional purpose of each layer makes it possible to exclude the influence of the base layer inhomogeneity on the characteristics of the coating.

The number of layers, in principle, does not affect the speed characteristics of the court, the speed and height of the rebound is determined by the amount of sand in the mixture of the upper layer. The less sand, the faster it is.

Surfaces of "Hard" systems, based on the speed and height of the ball rebound, are classified according to "ITF CS 01/01" (ITF Surface Pace Rating) into the following categories: "Medium" or "3" - medium; Medium-Fast ("4") - medium-fast; Fast ("5") - fast ( methodology for determining the category).

The fastest system is considered "Deco Turf", which is used by the participants of the "US Open". This hard system from the American manufacturer California Products Corporation was installed on the courts of the new National Tennis Center of the US Tennis Association. Billie Jean King in 1978 ( author's note – This center is often referred to as "Flushing Meadows" (Flushing Meadows) - after the name of the microdistrict in New York in which it is located).

In 1988, with the opening of the Melbourne Park National Tennis Center in Melbourne, the Australian Open was played on the Rebound Ace system, which is slightly slower than the Deco Turf. This is evidenced by a much higher number of long matches compared to similar statistics for the courts at the US National Tennis Center in "Flushing Meadows".

Rebound Ace is a purely Austrian invention. It uses not acrylic, but polyurethane, fiberglass and crumbs from the recycling of car tires. This is how Boris Becker described this coating: “ Under the hot sun, such a court becomes either slippery like ice or viscous like a swamp. It's like playing in hell". But experts say that the legs "got stuck" due to the thickness of the substrate in 8 mm, then they began to make 4 mm.

Since 2007, Plexicushion, manufactured by California Products Corporation, has been laid on Melbourne Park courts. The courts of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden tennis stadium in Indian Wells (USA), where the BNP Paribas Open is held, are also covered with a similar "Plexipave IW IN" system. These coatings are even slower, but more heat resistant. The basis of its top layer consists of latex with plastic particles ( note of the author - It is interesting that California Products Corporation in 2013. acquired a patent for the manufacture of the "Rebound Ace" system. So it's not that bad, and besides, it's cheap.).

The courts of tournaments such as the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London, the Paris Masters in Paris, the Swiss Indoors in Basel and the Olympic Tennis Stadium in Rio de Janeiro use the GreenSet system.

Hard systems with a rough surface are classified as non-slip coatings. Such surfaces are characterized by a somewhat different (from the classical) technique of footwork when approaching the ball.

Advantages:

• sufficiently high absorption of shock loads (Schlock Absorption);
• ball rebound stability;
• when installing a large number of mitigation options;
• preservation of properties in a wide temperature range from +50C° to - 40C°,
• a wide range of colors;
• matte coating, excluding light glare;
• unpretentious in maintenance and does not require special care;
• high resistance to abrasion, fading, as well as durability (the first restoration of the top layer is required only after 7-10 years of operation).

Flaws:

• the most traumatic surface (therefore, tennis shoe manufacturers are constantly improving their models for playing hard);
• does not pass moisture;
• at high temperatures, a heavy unpleasant odor occurs;
• durability depends on the quality of the base layer, associated with a rather complex laying technology and the influence of weather conditions when applied outdoors.

Recently, hard has become the most widespread in the world.

Teraflex (Tarafleks)

It is a synthetic rolled multilayer coating, which includes:

• base made of concrete, asphalt, wooden floor;
• soft closed-cell foam or PVC foam backing, the thickness and properties of which affect the speed of the ball rebound (the pace of the game);
• 2mm textured vinyl top layer.

The top layer is coated on top with polyurethane, which ensures ease of maintenance and protects against various marks, thereby extending the life of the coating. If the top layer is not treated with polyurethane, then special tennis shoes are required that leave no marks.

In order for the foot not to get stuck in the place pressed by it, which can lead to damage to the ankle joint during sharp turns of the body, the upper layer is reinforced with a fiberglass mesh.

The total thickness of the coating is 6.0-7.0 mm.

The teraflex structure contributes to a greater "twisting" of the ball after its rebound and evenly distributes the point load over the entire area. This coating is similar to a clay court in terms of ball rebound speed.

Two installation options are possible - permanent, with gluing to the base and welding, and temporary - with attachment to the base with double-sided tape.

The most common brands of this coating are: Tarafleks ATP, Tennis, Sport B. Of these, Tarafleks ATP has the highest coefficient of friction, which means a slower ball rebound. The equivalent of the coating is Graboflex.

Advantages:

• energy absorption (cushioning) of impacts, ensuring the comfort of the game;
• ease of maintenance;
• no footprints left.

Flaws:

• it is intended only for enclosed spaces with a positive temperature;
• not allowed to be exposed to atmospheric precipitation and direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

TO carpeting (Carpet)

It is a synthetic carpet (tennis carpet) laid on a flat hard surface (asphalt, concrete, wood). It can be supplied in rolls or in modules. The seams are glued with a special technical device.

To “speed up” the court, as well as to allow the legs to slide when approaching the ball, carpet courts are covered with rubber granules. The use of backfill gives the surface a playful imitation of a clay court.

The bounce characteristics of the ball may vary depending on the thickness, structure and material of which the carpet is made. Since the surface is softer than hard courts, the speed of play on them is somewhat lower. Such courts are usually built indoors. For example, tournaments were held on the carpet: "Paris Masters", "US Pro Indoor", "Kremlin Cup". Since 2009, the ATP and WTA have ceased to hold their tournaments on carpet. However, it is allowed when holding competitions under the auspices of the ITF, including the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup.

Advantages:

• predictable and optimal in terms of height and speed of the ball rebound;
• good grip with shoes, at the same time providing turns of the foot;
• small loads on the musculoskeletal system of tennis players.

Flaws:

• high cost;
• the influence of temperature conditions (as the temperature rises, the coating becomes softer);
• susceptible to damage and can fold (see video).

Artificial Grass (Synthetic Grass Tennis, Super Grass, Artificial Grass)

It is a type of carpeting laid on an asphalt or concrete base. It is produced using the “tufting method” technology: voluminous fibers imitating grass stalks are woven into a highly elastic base, which is then covered with latex. The pile is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination of both, which determines the durability and cost of the coating.

The differences lie in the type of fiber imitating grass and, as a result, in the service life, height and density of the pile (number of stitches per square meter), as well as the amount of backfilling with quartz sand or rubber (rubber) granules. The latter allow you to avoid skin burns when falling on the lawn. The infill is designed to stabilize the pile in a vertical position and optimize an even bounce across the entire surface of the court. Depending on the thickness of the backfill, the height of the pile and the density of the coating are adjusted, which allows you to vary the speed of the ball rebound over a wide range: from slow to very fast. In addition, the hardness of the coating (ball rebound speed) depends on the degree of humidity of the backfill, for which this coating must be equipped with a water irrigation system.

Depending on the backfill, grass surfaces qualify for:

• backfill, with a pile height of 18-22 mm;
• semi-filled, with a pile height of 12-18 mm and greater density;
• non-filling, with a pile height of 8-12 mm.

Semi-filled and non-filled coatings require more demanding bases.

Playing on infill or semi-infill grass is closest in its characteristics to playing on natural grass or clay.

The markings are integrated into the coating directly at the factory, which reduces the number of joints in the coating.

After the first winter, the sand settles down, after which it can be blown off or swept away with foliage and other contaminants without any problems.

Advantages:

• good sliding and turning capabilities, which ensures the comfort and safety of the game;
• small loads on the spine, joints and ligaments of the legs;
• hygroscopicity (artificial grass drainage system allows games to be played 20 minutes after rain);
• all-weather and frost resistance (allows you to play at any time of the year);
• durability (wear resistance);
• not demanding in care and maintenance, and therefore does not require large expenses;
• fast installation (2-3 days).

The disadvantage is its high cost.

Synthetic Ground

It is a monolithic coating that has playing characteristics corresponding to natural red soil.

Comprises:

• concrete or asphalt base;
• an intermediate (shock-absorbing) polyurethane layer, which foams when applied;
• covering layer in the form of polyurethane granules.

The variation of the ball rebound speed, sliding and impact absorption is carried out by modifying the intermediate layer.

Advantages:

• ease of care and recovery;
• no need for watering (compared to natural soil);
• high resistance to atmospheric influences (moisture, ultraviolet radiation, temperature fluctuations in a wide range);
• sufficiently high return energy of the coating, combined with reasonable absorption of impact energy;
• comfort of the game;
• the ability to set the desired rebound speed of the ball during installation.

Modular polymer coating (Modular Covering)

It is made of impact-resistant polystyrene (PP) and due to the strictly organized dense structure of its surface, the coating ensures the correct rebound of the ball. The structure of the module has a mesh shape and its perforated surface does not retain water and dirt. The modular surface combines the qualities of grass and clay courts, but in terms of a set of properties (general dynamics of the game, contact of sports shoes with the surface, ball rebound) is closer to clay ones.

The coating is assembled from separate modules and joined together by self-jamming fastening elements without the use of glue and other auxiliary materials. It is easily mounted on any hard flat surface - concrete, asphalt, old worn-out hard courts (even if they have cracks). Mounting on compacted sand without a solid base is possible. When the coating is immersed in it, the sand fills and wedges each cell of the structural grid. This installation method is more complicated and requires additional equipment. But at the same time, the overall costs are significantly reduced.

Module (tile) size: 333×333×16 mm.

The main advantages of modular coatings:

• increased strength and wear resistance;
• noise absorption;
• ease of installation and dismantling;
• does not require care.

Drawback - Used for amateur level players.

(aut.- In the history of tennis there were also "exotic" coverings. So in 1963. The Indian Davis Cup team hosted Americans in Bombay on Cricket Club of India courts, which were made from cow dung. However, the specific smell did not prevent the US team from winning 5-0.).

For successful and wealthy people, dachas have long ceased to be small houses with a minimum of conditions, and in suburban areas you can increasingly find pools, saunas and wine cellars.

If you prefer outdoor activities and are a fan of tennis, you might want to consider building your own court in the countryside. It should be recognized that the construction of tennis courts is very expensive, but the result of the effort and finances expended will be the opportunity to enjoy your favorite game and communication at any convenient time.

The easiest way to get a beautiful front lawn

Of course, you have seen the perfect lawn in the movies, on the alley, and perhaps on the neighbor's lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area in their area will no doubt say that this is a huge job. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think so, professionals have long known about the innovative tool - liquid turf AquaGrazz.

When embarking on a task like designing tennis courts, you should make sure that your site has a free area of ​​​​the required size.

1. The main requirement is the placement of the short side of the court from east to west. This is necessary so that during the game the sun does not blind the players' eyes.
2. The following dimensions of the tennis court are officially recognized by the International Tennis Federation: the width of the court is 10.97 m, and the length, respectively, is 23.77 m. sq. m).
3. There are some types of courts that require a smaller area to build. Thus, the required dimensions of a single tennis court are 23.8 x 8.2 m.
4. The general sizes of tennis courts for beginners and for children will be 16x32 m and 17x34 m respectively.

But if you have already conceived such a serious construction, experts advise building a full-fledged tennis court right away, since it will not be cheap to remodel an already built one.

Choosing a coating

The surface is the most basic and expensive part of the court. Different types of coatings differ significantly in characteristics. When choosing a coating for tennis courts, you need to evaluate each of them according to the following criteria:

• comfort,
• durability,
• cost and operating costs.

clay courts

The most inexpensive and least traumatic is the ground coating.

1. Clay courts require the least amount of time to build and cost three to four times less than any synthetic turf.
2. Playing on clay puts less strain on the legs and spine.
3. But caring for a tennis court with such a coating will require significant effort and expense.

They must be carefully cleaned of foliage and debris, watered in hot weather, and renewed every spring. To do this, at the beginning of the season you will need from 2 to 5 tons of a tennis player (a mixture of clay, stone chips and special additives). To create a court of standard sizes, up to 40 tons of such a mixture is required; after tamping, the height of the coating should be at least four centimeters.

grass court

The surface of the court can be grass, both natural and artificial.

1. Natural grass requires regular care: cutting and watering.
2. Artificial grass is a set of propylene fibers that are woven into a latex backing.

From above, depending on the length of the fiber, a certain amount of sand is poured. As a basis for such a coating, a layer of fine gravel or a concreted surface is required.

The rigidity of this coating, and, accordingly, the rebound speed of the ball can be controlled by the degree of wetting of the fibers. Like clay courts, grass courts also need regular sanding.

Hard court surfaces

Acrylic bulk coatings for hard tennis courts have become very popular today. Many famous tennis tournaments take place on hard courts.

A significant advantage of this coating is its durability: hard, if properly applied, can last for decades. Acrylic tennis courts require virtually no maintenance.

To build an acrylic court, the court must first be poured with concrete or covered with asphalt. Depending on the number of layers of filling, the court will have a different degree of rigidity. A four-layer fill is considered the minimum, but seven or more layers make the site safe. Acrylic courts are the most expensive and time consuming to build. Maintenance of an acrylic tennis court is the easiest and simplest among all of the above.

plastic coating

Another material for artificial turf is plastic. It is produced in the form of small blocks and mounted using special fasteners. Same as acrylic, plastic

• placed on a solid base
• easy care
• does not require additional costs during operation.

When choosing plastic, be sure to check the warranty from the manufacturer. Blocks made from low-quality materials can be deformed by temperature changes, rendering your court completely unusable.

To facilitate the care of the tennis court, it is necessary to provide drainage. To do this, the platform should be placed at an angle in width.

Additional elements

To turn the finished site into a real tennis court, you need a few more details.

This is what the court should look like.

From the schematic picture of the court, it can be seen that we will also need a net, a fence, and lamps to illuminate the tennis court.

The grid for dividing the site should be made of nylon, the optimal dimensions of the web are: width - 12.8 m, height - 1.06 m. To fix the grid, it is advisable to insert a metal cable into the upper edge.

Tennis court fencing has several functional purposes. It prevents the balls from flying beyond the boundaries of the site, restrains gusts of wind that blow out the ground, against the background of the fence you can better see the trajectory of the ball.

To build a fence, you will need a chain-link mesh and metal or wooden poles up to 4 meters long. The pillars are concreted to a depth of 1 m and covered with mesh. For greater isolation of the court, climbing plants can be planted along the fence.

If you are building a tennis court with your own hands, the data from the following picture will help you in marking.

For drawing lines, you can use the markings from perforated white PVC, which is rolled into the coating. A cheaper option would be regular enameled white paint.

It should be remembered that the width of the end lines should be 10 cm, and the rest - 5 cm. We transfer the marking lines from the picture to the site, and the tennis court markings are ready.

If you can find time to play tennis mainly in the evening, you should take care of the lighting. Optimal illumination of the tennis court can be ensured by installing four to eight lamps at a height of 5-6 m, depending on their power.

Tennis (tennis)- a sport in which two players or two teams of two people compete with each other. The goal of each of the players / teams is to throw the ball to the opponent's side with a racket in such a way that the opponent cannot reflect it. In this case, the ball must touch the opponent's half of the field at least once.

The history of the emergence and development of tennis

The predecessor of tennis is considered to be the French game "jeu de paume" (French jeu de paume, literally playing with the palm of the hand). Unlike modern tennis, jeu de paume was played indoors and with the palm of the hand. Later, the palm was replaced by gloves, gloves were replaced by special bits, and only then did rackets appear.

One of the most famous references to tennis in medieval literature is the episode in Shakespeare's historical chronicle "Henry V", where the French dauphin sends a keg of tennis balls to the young English king in mockery.

Almost all French kings played tennis, Charles IX called tennis "one of the most noble, worthy and healthy exercises that princes, peers and other noble persons can do."

In 1900, students at Harvard University decided to organize a tournament for national teams. One of the students, Dwayne Davis, bought a silver cup for the winner with his own money, and most importantly, drew up the rules for the tournament. Davis and two of his friends played for the US team, which won this tournament, and then the next in 1902. The Cup was held every year and was subsequently called the "Davis Cup", which is still a popular event in the world of tennis.

Beginning in the 1920s, professional tennis players began to earn money playing exhibition matches. The first professional tennis match in history took place on October 9, 1926 in New York at the Madison Square Garden indoor arena, in the presence of 13,000 spectators.

Tennis Rules

Players or teams must be on opposite sides of the net. One of the players is the server, the second, respectively, the receiver. The serving player must send the ball in such a way that it hits the court area in the opponent's half. The receiving player must have time to redirect (beat) the ball to the opponent's side before it hits the court or before it touches the court a second time. If one of the tennis players missed the ball, then his opponent gets a point.

A tennis match consists of “sets”, and these in turn are “games”, for which you need to score goals (minimum 4 goals: 15-30-40-game, but with a difference of at least two goals). When serving, the player has two attempts in which he alternately serves the ball into the left and right squares. After the game is played, the serve goes to the opponent. After playing an odd number of games, the players are given a one-minute break and the side is changed. The player who wins 6 games first (provided that his opponent won no more than 4 games) is considered to have won the set. To win a match, you must win 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5 sets. The one who gets the required number of won sets wins the match.

The rules for doubles in tennis are slightly different from singles, namely:

• the match takes place on a larger court;
• the ball is beaten off by the one who is in the best position;
• players of each team serve in turn;
• Players accept serves only from their side throughout the entire set.

At official matches there is a referee, he is on the tower. In addition to the referee on the tower in the match, there may be referees on the line who record the ball hitting the court area. Since 2006, tennis has been in the era of electronic refereeing systems (Eye of the hawk), which determine the place of the ball's fall with high accuracy.

Tennis court

The standard size of a tennis court is 23.77 meters long and 8.23 ​​meters wide (10.97 meters for doubles). The area of ​​the tennis court is about 196 m2. For the arrangement of tennis courts intended for competitions, an area equal to 668 m2 is required. The court has a rectangular shape with a flat surface with markings applied to it:

• The lines along the short sides of the court are called the back lines, and those along the long sides are called the lineouts.
• Service zones are marked on the court with service lines parallel to the back lines and the net, 6.40 m from the net and drawn only between the side lines for singles, and a center service line drawn in the middle of the court parallel to the side lines and between the service lines . The center service line is also displayed on the net by a vertical white stripe stretched from the surface of the court to the top of the net.
• A short mark is applied to the back lines, indicating their middle.

In the middle of the court, a net is stretched, which runs along the entire width and divides it into two equal parts. The standard tennis net size is 1.07 meters by 12.8 meters, and has square cells with a side of 4 centimeters.

Types of coatings for tennis courts:

• herbal (grass),
• ground (clay),
• solid (hard),
• synthetic carpets (artificial grass, acrylic coatings).

There are other types of tennis court surfaces, such as asphalt, wood or rubber surfaces, but they are not used in official matches. Tennis courts are open and covered.

Tennis equipment

Tennis equipment: tennis racket and ball. The racket consists of a handle and a rounded rim with stretched strings. Racket rim is made of complex composite materials (ceramics, carbon fiber, metal). Tennis racket strings can be either natural or synthetic. Previously it was believed that natural strings have better characteristics, but today artificial strings have caught up with natural strings in terms of characteristics. Interestingly, the tension force of horizontal and vertical strings is usually different. Typically, a tennis racket is selected individually for each player.

There are special requirements for rackets from the International Tennis Federation (ITF):

• The length of the racket must not exceed 73.66 cm.
• The width of the racket must not exceed 31.75 cm.
• The size of the stringed surface of the racket, that is, the internal dimension (to the rim) is 29.21 cm wide and 39.37 cm long.

The game is played with a yellow-white rubber ball. Outside, the ball is covered with fluffy felt to give certain aerodynamic properties.

tennis tournaments

1. In modern tennis, the 4 Grand Slam tournaments are considered the largest competitions:

• Australian Open - Australian Open
• Rolland Garos - French Open
• Wimbledon Championships - the most prestigious Grand Slam championship, takes place on the outskirts of London - Wimbledon
• US Open is the US Open.

1. The Davis Cup is the unofficial tennis world championship.
2. The Kremlin Cup is the largest championship in Russia.

In the final third part of the article, we will talk about clay and grass courts. For objective reasons, which we will discuss below, these types of coverage are inferior in terms of prevalence to hard. The grass season lasts just over 1.5 months. And if you discard Wimbledon, even less so. On the other hand, this has its advantages. That kind of uniqueness makes big clay and grass tournaments special in a way, and elitist, if you will. Not without reason, victories in Grand Slam tournaments on clay (French Open (RolandGarros)) and on the grass (Wimbledon) are valued by athletes and amateurs higher than the victories on US Open (US-Open) or Australian Open (AustralianOpen). Although nominally the last two tournaments are also part of the Grand Slam tournament series.

Clay courts

In terms of construction and operation, these are usually the most economical courts. This type of coating is also referred to as the least traumatic. Therefore, it is recommended to play it for adults, children, and beginners. But what does it mean "tennis ground"? This is certainly not the usual "land" as some aspiring tennis players think. To cover these areas, a mixture of natural materials is used in various combinations and proportions: sand, clay, brick chips, etc. Hence the color of clay courts. The most common is "red soil" used mainly in Europe and South America. Tournaments are held in the USA "green ground".

Clay courts are the slowest type of surface. The bounce of the ball is usually high. The rallies are long and the more the ball is in play, the more it becomes heavier, as it "collects" the ground. Of course, a strong serve and on the ground will not hurt. However, ceteris paribus, on this type of surface, the advantage is given to "runners-players", i.e. tennis players who are able to withstand a long exchange of blows on the back line, have good endurance and prefer combination tennis. Therefore, doing tennis betting, these seemingly elementary truths regarding the specifics of the game on the ground should be taken into account.

Grass courts

Natural grass courts in the expanses of the former USSR are very rare. What can we say about the post-Soviet region, if in Europe, they are a curiosity, and more or less common only in Germany and the UK. Several grass tournaments are also held in the USA. All this is explained by objective reasons: the high cost of construction and the complexity of operation. It is constantly necessary to monitor the quality of the grass "carpet" and carry out regeneration measures in a timely manner.

Grass is considered the fastest surface in tennis. The ball bounces fast and low. Draws are usually over in a few strokes. Tennis players of an aggressive style get the advantage on the grass. In a game between two players who serve well, other things being equal, the stereotypical bet is "total games over".

On this "trilogy" about the types of coverage of tennis courts came to its logical conclusion. I hope that the information presented in the articles will at least slightly allow beginners in sports betting to improve the quality of their tennis predictions. AND remember that you cannot consider the court coverage factor in isolation from other data (physical and psychological form, motivation, etc.)!

Good luck in your bets and everyday affairs!

Tennis is a sport that requires compliance with many conditions. Here we mean not only the personal athletic qualities of the players and suitable equipment, but also the conditions of the court itself, in particular, good coverage. What are the main types of different coatings for tennis courts, and what are the requirements for them?

• Grass;
• ground cover;
• hard;
• Carpet synthetics;
• Other options.

grass cover

When it comes to the types of tennis court surfaces, grass court comes to mind first. This coating is classic, which was widely used more than a hundred years ago. Such a court requires careful and expensive maintenance, and can only serve as a platform for professional sportsmen who have the skill of fast play. The best grass courts today can be found in the UK and Australia.

ground cover

Quite popular in our time, the coating is intended for the tennis court due to the low cost of materials for the arrangement and the low probability of injury to athletes during the game. The usual pattern of playing on clay is slow speed and long rallies.

Clay courts require constant monitoring and systematic maintenance. The world's best clay courts are equipped in Spain, South America and France.

Hard - hard coating

A universal hard surface that provides a fast and stable ball bounce is usually equipped with concrete covered with a layer of synthetic material. Pluses - no dependence on the weather, they are used for outdoor courts and courts inside various premises, and also do not need special maintenance. Cons - special shoes are needed, increased injury risk and deterioration in the visibility of the playing area on outdoor hard courts in sunny weather. Hard is used in open championships in Australia and the USA.

Carpet synthetic flooring

This type of coating from slabs or in the form of a roll can be laid on any surface, provides excellent shock absorption, has a low risk of injury and increased strength. It is used mainly in indoor courts, and is in great demand in our country - it is on such a court that we host the Kremlin Cup.

Other types of tennis court surfaces

The remaining types of various coatings for tennis courts, in many ways, are extremely budget options that are used at the amateur level. This is a laminate, asphalt and rubber coating for the court.