Here is a concise summary of the text:
**The Ill-Fated "Blue Clay" Experiment in Tennis**
* In 2012, billionaire tennis enthusiast Ion Țiriac (aka "Fiddy AK") introduced "blue clay" courts at the Madrid Open, aiming to enhance TV viewing experience.
* Despite initial resistance from top players like Federer and Nadal, the blue clay was implemented, but it proved disastrous due to:
+ Poor court conditions (uneven, slippery)
+ Favoritism towards offensive players (contrary to traditional clay court dynamics)
* The experiment was met with widespread criticism, and:
+ Top players (Nadal, Djokovic) were knocked out early
+ Federer, the eventual winner, still criticized the surface
* The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) promptly banned blue clay for all 2013 events, ending the experiment.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and in short sentences:
1. **Tennis court surfaces**: There are three main types of tennis court surfaces: grass, clay, and hard courts.
2. **Clay court usage**: Clay courts are the most widely used surface worldwide, with slight variations in color and texture.
3. **Hard court maintenance**: Hard courts require minimal maintenance, making them common in local parks and high schools.
4. **2005 US Open court color change**: The US Open changed its court color from green to blue to improve TV viewing.
5. **Australian Open court color change**: The Australian Open changed its court color from green to blue in 2008 during renovations.
6. **Other court color changes**: Other tournaments also changed colors, e.g., to purple (2007, Miami/Bogota, 2013).
7. **Ian "Fiddy" AK's background**:
* International table tennis champion (as a child)
* Member of the Romanian Olympic ice hockey team
* Professional tennis player (won 1970 French Open doubles with Ilie Nastase)
8. **Ian "Fiddy" AK's tennis involvement**:
* Owner of the Madrid Open (since 2009)
* Previously a professional coach, manager, agent, and committee president
9. **Madrid Open changes**:
* Initially an end-of-year event, transformed into a spring red clay spectacle (2009)
* Replaced ball kids with adult fashion models (2004, initially unpopular)
10. **Blue clay introduction (2012)**:
* Idea conceived by Ian "Fiddy" AK to enhance TV viewing
* Made by stripping iron oxide from crushed red bricks, then adding blue dye
* Doubled the cost of traditional red clay
11. **Player reactions to blue clay**:
* Initial skepticism (e.g., Federer, Nadal)
* Nadal and Djokovic criticized the surface after playing on it
12. **Blue clay issues (2012 Madrid Open)**:
* Soft and uneven courts due to poor drainage
* Exacerbated by heavy rain and heat, making the surface hard and slippery
13. **Consequences for players**:
* Favored offensive players (e.g., Federer) over defensive ones
* Upset losses for Nadal and Djokovic
14. **ATP's decision on blue clay**:
* Banned for all 2013 events due to player and industry feedback
15. **Aftermath**:
* Nadal won the 2013 Madrid title on red clay
* Nadal and Djokovic dominated subsequent Madrid titles; Federer has not reached the finals since the blue clay year.