How to Slay on Clay

A Closer Look

How to Slay on Clay

I’ve watched my fair share of Nadal highlights over the years, so I know the basics of what makes a great player on the dirt: topspin (heavy), sliding, and extra long grunts.

But I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to know: what really separates clay court tennis from hard court? And what skills do great clay court players have?

Let’s find out.

The Major Differences

First things first: the ball slows down. A lot. When you rip a flat forehand on hard court, it skids like you’re skipping rocks. On clay? The dirt chews up all of your power and spits out a ball the speed of a third string Little League pitcher.

Second: every bounce is different. Heavy topspin shots kick up high over your shoulders. Slices and drop shots barely bounce at all. And sometimes — just for fun — the ball catches a bad spot and decides it’s going rogue.

Third: it’s slippery as f*ck. So not only is your power cut in half. Not only is it harder to judge where the ball will actually be when you swing. But you also have to figure it all out while sliding around a freshly mopped airport bathroom. This ain’t Kansas anymore, Dorothy.

You hear that? It’s your ACL crying 🥴

The Keys

So then, what makes the top dirt rats clay courters great at their jobs?

👀 They are incredible at reading their opponent's balance: This was Nadal’s sixth sense. If you had a poor slide into a shot in the corner, or backed up too far from the baseline off a shank, Nadal knew it immediately and would deploy whatever cruel option was available: drop shot, sharp angle, go behind you, etc.

🦵 They have insane leg strength: Ever tried sprinting on the beach? That’s clay movement. Every change of direction demands massive leg drive, because the ground isn't giving you anything back. Your feet keep sliding, and your legs do all the work. Now imagine doing that for four hours, after a 36-shot rally, while some South American with Popeye calves refuses to miss.

🎯 They’re incredible at adjusting their strike zone: One ball is above your shoulders, the next at your ankles. Nadal mastered this chaos. His ability to improvise — taking shoulder-high backhands, digging out skidding slices — made it impossible to hurt him on the dirt. You can’t wait for the "perfect" ball. You have to create with whatever mess you get.

Still hit this cleanly 😮‍💨

Zoom Out

This was an especially fun piece to write because I got to watch Nadal highlights from Roland Garros. And the more I watched, the clearer it became: tennis on clay is dancing.

The sliding. The way players twist and stretch to meet unpredictable bounces. The swift, decisive shot-making when an opponent’s off balance. It’s all part of the choreography. Point after point, rally after rally, it’s like watching a gritty, bruising tango.

But make no mistake — this dance demands brutal strength. It’s a full-body test of endurance, balance, and resilience. That’s what makes clay so special — and why it commands a different kind of respect. So as we head toward another French Open, don’t just watch for the winners. Watch for the sliding, the grinding, and the dancing.

Trivia

Serena Williams ended her career with a ridiculous 23 Grand Slam singles titles. At which tournament did she win her first?

A. Australian Open

B. French Open

C. Wimbledon

D. US Open

Bonus if you also know the year. Find out at the bottom!

Meet the Player

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

From: Spain 🇪🇸 

Career High Ranking: 21

Fun Fact: Has a tattoo of a tsunami, "but my coach says I’m more like a volcano”

Game Analysis: God I love this guy’s name. And his game! The Spaniard has textbook technique, which allows him to hit every shot in the book at high speeds. His backhand down-the-line would make an Olympic archer proud—it’s pinpoint. The only negative thing I can put on his report card is that he doesn’t have a special weapon (like a big serve, monster forehand, insane athleticism, etc.)

Career Prediction: At 25, Foki is in his prime. He made the fourth round of the Australian Open this year, and has made two tour-level finals. He’s going to be a Top 50 staple for years. At the Slams, he’ll always win a few rounds, but then someone in the Top 10 will send him packing.

Memes

My wife when I leave the toilet seat up

Around the Net

Some of my favorite tennis content I found on the internet this week…

👩🏽‍💼 A day in the life of Tommy Paul, Jess Pegula and Emma Navarro’s agent.

🤓 Inside the mind of a young, ex-tennis player turned coach. Which type of students this kind of coach is great for, and those who are definitely not.

🎾 A break down of the phenomenal Joao Fonseca vs. Tommy Paul match from Madrid last week

Answer

D. The US Open

Serena was just 17 when she won her first major title—the year was 1999. I get teary every time I watch her her reaction after winning match point, it’s so good.