By IANS
Melbourne : Concerns over the controversial decision to tear up the Australian Open tennis courts and replace them with an unproven new surface are escalating, following injuries to Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic.
The new courts are supposed to be greased lightning, but they are like sandpaper. There is a scathing attack from the supplier of the old courts and also fears of the global tournament being played on surfaces even slower than those deemed unworthy of Melbourne Park.
The winner of the Australian Open wildcard play-offs, Victorian Joseph Sirianni, said that the courts were “like sandpaper” during his four-set victory over Adam Feeney in the final at the Rod Laver Arena.
Sirianni liked the new electric blue courts but he’s a baseliner who thinks the slower, the better.
The whole idea of ripping up the 20-year-old Rebound Ace courts and replacing them at a high six-figure cost was to give Lleyton Hewitt and most of the other players what they wanted – a sleek surface nearly as fast as that used at the US Open.
“They’re slow at the moment,” Sirianni said. “It will speed up once players come in from overseas and practise on them. There are still a few weeks before the Open and they’ll get worn in.
Another major gripe from players is that the Rebound Ace courts became so sticky in hot weather that ankle and leg injuries were inevitable.
But both Philippoussis and Dokic suffered on-court troubles during the play-offs on such courts forcing both to withdraw. Philippoussis’ career is probably over after his latest knee problem. Dokic broke down with a thigh strain.