By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, Could 14, 2023
All roads result in Rome.
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The crimson filth highway to the Rome title can pop with potholes.
Reigning Rome champion Novak Djokovic is aware of learn how to navigate the cracks, chasms and infamous unhealthy bounces of the Foro Italico. Djokovic has contested 12 Rome finals and says disruptive divots and unruly bounces are a part of the event’s problem.
“I imply, Rome by no means had an excellent repute for the standard of the courtroom, to be trustworthy with you,” Djokovic instructed the media after his three-set win over Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday.
So what is the resolution?
How can Rome improve the standard of its crimson clay to decrease unhealthy bounces and replicate Roland Garros and provides gamers perfect preparation for Paris?
World No. 1 Djokovic says there is a easy resolution: Stage an intervention.
Six-time Rome champion Djokovic says name within the clay-court clinicians who take care of Roland Garros’ courts to treatment Rome’s disruptive filth.
“Look, it is a part of the clay courtroom season, so we’ve got to just accept the actual fact that you will have plenty of uneven, irregular bounces,” Djokovic stated. “In Rome, it has been occurring fairly just a few years.
“Truly I keep in mind possibly about 10 years, somebody instructed me they introduced Roland Garros folks in, and that 12 months the courtroom was finest.
“I do not know why they do not name them once more as a result of clearly they’re the most effective clay courtroom specialists on the planet.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion says he does not blame the Internazaionali BNL d’Italia courtroom crew, whom he considers buddies, for the typically uneven clay.
Somewhat, Djokovic believes lack of constant play to agency up the courts earlier than the event begins may very well be the perpetrator.
Final 12 months, Wimbledon broke with a protracted custom and permitted choose gamers to follow on Centre Courtroom earlier than The Championships started in an effort to interrupt within the grass and stop slips and slides some gamers skilled in early rounds.
“That’s fascinating could be to know how a lot tennis they’re enjoying on the courtroom truly earlier than the event begins,” Djokovic instructed the media in Rome. “I feel the opposite 12 months I used to be asking, they usually weren’t enjoying a lot in any respect.
“They performed pre-quallies. If you happen to do not use the courtroom, and you’ve got a clay courtroom, this stuff occur. The courtroom breaks. You’ve got many holes. You’ve got uneven floor, actually unhealthy bounces, loads of clay.”
Photograph credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
