The Ground Stroke Symphony

Nightshift Sports: Embed from Getty Images   “You get a shiver in the dark It’s raining in the park but meantime South of the river you stop and you hold everything A band is blowing Dixie double four time You feel alright when you hear that music ring Well, now you step inside but you …

The French Open 2017: Warmups-Nadal At Monte Carlo

Nightshift Sports: Rafael Nadal and clay court tennis–they are synonymous. Nadal has won the French Open 9 times–a record–and is the sport’s current reigning wizard on clay court surfaces. Although his game doesn’t always translate well to grass or hard courts, on clay is the master and there is no reason to believe that he …

Clay Court Clinic: Toni Nadal (Rafa's coach) on Opening The Court

Paying Attention: The French Open is on and perhaps you’d like to try a little clay court tennis yourself. First, please note that Clay Court tennis is a very different type of tennis from hard court or grass. It requires more stamina, better and more consistent ground strokes, and the ability to work a point, not …

Clay Court Clinic: Toni Nadal (Rafa’s coach) on Opening The Court

Paying Attention: The French Open is on and perhaps you’d like to try a little clay court tennis yourself. First, please note that Clay Court tennis is a very different type of tennis from hard court or grass. It requires more stamina, better and more consistent ground strokes, and the ability to work a point, not …

Clay Court Clinic: Nadal and Djokovic

Deep Background: Nadal and Djokovic was projected to be the match of the tournament in 2015. In many ways, it was, but it came in the quarters, not the semis or the finals.  Djokovic finally took Nadal out at The French and he did it by playing to win, not by playing not to lose. …

French Open Deep Background: How to Slide on A Clay Court

Paying Attention: We’re in weekend of the French Open. The men’s semis are now over (yes, Djokovic took our Murray in 5 sets); the women’s title decided (another win for Serena) and tomorrow–the men’s title. What the tennis fan sees this weekend is tennis at its’ finest–the art of clay court tennis, as mastered by the best …