Rafa made a Facebook entry today of him practising at Manacor Tennis Club. I still feel a bit wistful when I see it and know that I've stood on the balcony of the clubhouse that looks down onto the court. So whilst the rest of Manacor was something I won't rush back to, I shall always be pleased for the nostalgia of having visited the club where the greatest clay court player of all time learnt his craft ... Rafael Nadal.
Rafa's spent a couple of days back home, but has announced that he'd travel to Madrid tomorrow.
Now the story of the Madrid Masters this year is the blue clay. Rafa - a particular traditionalist in this area - hates the idea. And even good old Feds has come out to say that he agrees with him. Wonders will never cease! But what is it actually like to play on?
To help us with this conundrum, we have Fer to offer an opinion, as he's already in Madrid and has been playing on it. This is what he has to say ...
"Perhaps the surface now in Madrid is not quite as bouncy as normal, which will make the courts slower, but that could just be a result of us having trained on an indoor court in the cold. Some heat and sunlight might put a bit more life and bounce into the surface."
Well excuse me for having a quiet chortle, but the mere mention that the courts will be playing "slower" will have the keyboard jockeys and hatahs gnashing their teeth that its all a ploy to give "advantage Nadal" as he takes centre stage on yet another SLOW COURT.
To be honest, the clay court season doesn't need gimmicks to sell it. Its with us for such a short period that I just want to rest my eyes from the tedium of the blue hardcourts and to bask in seeing the lovely, red dirt. Madrid as a tournament has never been the greatest of hunting grounds for Rafa ... but I'm sure if its tournament director can find a way to help Rafa win which includes turning the red clay blue ... then he will be happy to have done it. :D :D
But the winner will be the winner ... whatever the colour.
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