The Best Tennis Players for the Clay Season

The clay season is one of the most hectic times of the tennis season. During this time, players who excel on attacking and serving are rendered useless while more consistent players who can play nonstop (also known as grinders) become the superstars.

There is also a difference in movement. Players who can slide on the courts and play with more topspin are better than those who know how to sprint down the court as well as serve and volley. The clay season is a whole different playing field. This means that there are different players that are the kings of the court.

Sure, you can consider players like Roger Federer and Andy Murray to be strong players all around, but this is only when they’re playing on the grass courts and on the hard courts. When it comes to Clay, we’re talking about a whole new spectrum of playstyle.

That being said, I’m here to walk you through the top players you’ll want to keep your eyes on for the clay season. With my help, you’ll have an edge in the betting 토토사이트 world and this could be key to helping you make a fortune.

What Makes the Clay Court Unique?

Why is the clay court unique? Simply put, take everything you know from hard courts and grass courts and throw it in the trash. The clay courts encompass a type of playstyle which can dethrone kings and prodigies alike.

Pete Sampras, the top player of his time, was known to be a threat on the hard courts and grass courts. This was largely thanks to his huge serve and aggressive serve-and-volley playstyle that helped him win several Grand Slams during his career. However, there was one Grand Slam he couldn’t win: Roland Garros.

His aggressive serving and playstyle did not work on the domain which clay ruled. Instead, names like Bjorn Borg, Michael Chang, Carlos Moya, and Juan Carlos Ferrero dominated, leaving no breathing room for the other players.

So, what makes clay court such a unique area that the top names in the world struggle to compete at the level? The clay court is known for its slow-paced yet tricky movements. Balls lose substantially more power as they make contact with the clay, causing serve and groundstroke speeds to decrease drastically.

Not only this, movement around the court is also harder than usual. Rather than running and sprinting for balls, the clay court stresses sliding and fast starts. If you can’t start fast enough, then moving through the cohesive material will leave you out-of-breath.

This is why the clay court is so unique.

Players can’t just run and move like they would normally do on a hard or grass court.

Instead, they have to move in different ways that they are not accustomed to. Also, because the clay court is only around for one part of the season, they have very little time to adjust themselves to the environment, making it a court which isn’t for the faint-hearted.

So Who Should You Bet On?

With all that talk about how difficult it is to play on clay, it seems like the choices for betting are very slim. The player many consider to be the king of tennis, Roger Federer, as even skipped out on Roland Garros due to a lower chance of winning that Grand Slam rather than other Grand Slams like the U.S. Open or Wimbledon.

However, even though many of the top players struggle on this court, there are still some options for bettors to choose. In fact, betting on the clay court today is much easier than ever since so many players have learned to move and slide faster than ever. This is our list of the top players you should bet on.

Alexander Zverev

German prodigy, Alexander Zverev, is a jack of all trades. While most players are strong on one court type, Alexander Zverev can play on every single type of court. In fact, he excels on the clay court, winning a Masters 1000 tournament in Rome and a clay title in Munich.

On the clay courts, Alexander Zverev has a solid 64%-win rate. But what makes Alexander Zverev such a strong pick? Is it that he’s an all-court player and that he isn’t afraid of being down in a match? Is it that he knows how to play out points whenever other players are about to break down? It’s a culmination of all of these traits which make him such a strong player on the clay courts.

Because clay courts are all about sliding and the slower-paced balls compensated by longer rallies, only the fittest players who are mentally capable of the strain can succeed. Alexander Zverev is all about this.

Alexander Zverev

He’s been known to come back from five-game deficits and still win the game. Alexander Zverev is the definition of “it’s not over till its over.” Known for his insane in-game rallies, Alexander Zverev can rally nonstop…and when the points over, he can do it all over again.

Combined with his impressive ability to serve well and efficient as well as his strong returns, Alexander Zverev has it all. He is the player that isn’t afraid to do anything. He’s one of my top upcoming picks and a solid choice all around.

Marin Cilic

Marin Cilic may be better suited for hard and grass courts thanks to his large serve and aggressive forehand. However, he still is a top pick for bettors and audience members alike. He has an almost 67%-win rate on the clay court.

He also holds a clay court title from Istanbul and Umag. He’s made two Munich finals and a finals appearance in Geneva. Despite being known for a playstyle that should not work on the clay courts, Marin Cilic has proved the naysayers wrong and has brought his dominance to the clay season.

What makes him so strong is the fact that he can control the point from the get-go.

If you give him an easy or neutral ball, Marin Cilic knows exactly what to do with the ball and can keep the point going in his favor until the very end.

Even if the clay court is meant to keep players from playing as aggressive as one can on grass or hard court, Marin Cilic still has managed to find a way to make his forehand the main weapon in his game, 먹튀검증 사이트 추천 dominating the court with it largely thanks to the positioning of his shots as well as the pure speed—something very few people can do on the clay court.

Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem is the definition of ruthless. He doesn’t have one of the fastest serves on the ATP Tour and isn’t known for his insane forehand or backhand, but his speed kills and it’s the reason he’s managed to become known as one of the top clay court players in the current era.

He has an almost 75%-win rate on the clay court with more than half of his current titles coming from this respective court. Some of his most notable titles are his Buenos Aires titles (which he’s won twice) and his Rio de Janeiro title.

Known to be a dominant force from the moment the point starts, Dominic knows how to move the ball while moving himself. What separates him the most, though, from the others is his ability to stop and start faster than the other players.

Because clay is more slippery and malleable than others, it’s harder for a player to start and stop due to the clay slipping underneath the soles of one’s shoes.

Plus, with so many ways to move around a court, learning to master the art of movement in the clay season is fundamental to any good tennis player.

Luckily for Dominic, he’s already a master of this type of play. He’s perfect in starting movements as well as stopping. Because of this, he’s one of the few players that can be a consistent threat to Rafael Nadal, a player that many consider to be the master of clay.

However, that’s not the only positive side to Dominic’s kit. Because of his young age, Dominic Thiem will be a top pick for years to come. He’s looking healthier than ever so injuries will most likely not be a problem till he becomes much older.

Combined with the raw speed he has plus a deadly one-handed backhand that very few know how to deal with along with his ripe age and a strong playstyle that has given him much success along the way, Dominic Thiem will be a pick I highly suggest you take.

Novak Djokovic

Despite having a tough season so far, Novak Djokovic has been regarded as one of the top clay court players of all time. Holding a current 80%-win rate, almost no one has ever matched that strong of a win-loss percentage.

He may be in some tough times currently, but the way he plays reflects how well he can be during the clay season. In fact, during his prime, he was able to take down Rafael Nadal without any problems whatsoever.

Because Novak Djokovic can play endlessly and take down his opponents without tiring, he’s obviously a perfect pick. He’s been able to move flawlessly on the court and has a killer forehand and backhand which help him finish business.

Novak Djokovic has also been known to be an impenetrable wall when it comes to his defense.

He’s been able to defend shot after shot against players. In fact, he’s even won a Roland Garros among his other accomplishments.

He also has several Masters tournaments under his belt including Monte Carlo, Rome, and Madrid. Novak possesses every single trait a top-tier clay court player needs. He just needs to get out of his slump. VISIT HERE 

Once Novak Djokovic gets out of his slump, he could potentially become one of the best players in the ATP Tour yet again. He’s already proven it before. Don’t give up on him so easy yet. There is still a lot of money to be made from him.

Stanislas Wawrinka

Stanislas Wawrinka is like the Roger Federer of clay. Possessing a one-handed backhand, a deadly forehand, and a serve that kills, Stanislas Wawrinka is a powerhouse that you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the spectrum against. (He’s also Swiss, just like Federer)

Despite dropping in rankings, Stanislas has managed to acquire an almost 68%-win rate on the clay court, making himself a top contender for the clay season. In fact, in 2015, he won Roland Garros, the biggest clay tournament of the season and one of the four Grand Slams.

What makes Stanislas Wawrinka unique from the others is the fact that he is able to hit every ball consistently and strongly.

During Novak Djokovic’s peak, Stanislas Wawrinka was the only player who could ever challenge him in a match.

He may start out slow during the first few rallies, but once he gets into the point, he becomes unstoppable. Even Rafael Nadal has struggled against taking him down. With Wawrinka’s strategy being based around waiting for the point to develop, it seems easy to take him down by ending the point early.

However, on clay, that is an extremely hard task to accomplish. Because the ball moves much slower on clay than it does on the hard and grass courts, it’s much easier for Stanislas to develop the point till he can begin to hit blazing backhands and forehand winners.

Combined with the fact that he isn’t a bad runner himself, Wawrinka is a slow-but-sure race when it comes to the long run. He even has a Masters Monte Carlo trophy to prove his worth alongside two Geneva trophies from the earlier years.

Stanislas Wawrinka is one of my personal favorites. He’s an underdog. Most players don’t expect him to make it far, considering that he likes to start points slowly. However, once he gets on a roll, it’s almost impossible to stop this Swiss powerhouse.

Rafael Nadal

This list wouldn’t be complete without Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has become known as one of the best players in the business, winning ten Roland Garros titles and countless clay Masters 1000’s. On clay, Rafael Nadal is unstoppable.

Holding an astounding 92%-win rate on his favorite court, it’s almost a crime not to bet on Rafael Nadal during the clay season. Even when he was going through a rough patch, he was still winning tournaments left and right.

Even with competitors like Stanislas Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, and Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal still possesses two things which give him an advantage every single time: his blistering top-spin forehand and speed that no one can rival.

Sure, players like Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and Dominic Thiem can run pretty fast, but they have never been able to grind out a point like Rafael Nadal ever has. He’s been able to run back and forth for minutes on end, hitting balls back like his life depended on it.

Then, when the point finished, he’d go back and do it all over again without breaking a sweat. Rafael Nadal is the definition of a beast. He has never been scared of any player when he’s on his home court and he never will be.

It’s just simple. The statistics don’t lie. He’s a player that every bettor should have their eyes on this upcoming season. Even though he’s been struggling through an injury, Nadal has always been known to come back and give the audience a performance that left everyone speechless.

What You Need to Know For the Upcoming Season

While there are a handful of players that I’ve told you to bet on, you should know some of the facts going into this year’s clay season. Because things like injuries or slumps can get in your way, it’s best to know about some of these things before you dive right in.

Novak Djokovic Is in a Slump

Since his injury, Novak Djokovic has been struggling to come back to his former glory when he was defeating names like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on their home courts. However, coming back from his hiatus of tennis, it seems like Novak hasn’t been able to find his ah-ha moment just yet.

The last clay court tournament he won was in 2016 which was Roland Garros as well as a Masters 1000 Monte Carlo title. However, for some reason, he can’t find the playing style and confidence he once had when he dominated the ATP Tour.

He’s been slowly coming back to his former glory, winning matches here and there, but he’ll need to stack some good wins before he can regain his confidence back. Once that happens, Novak Djokovic will go back to becoming the threat he once was.

Since 2017 has started, we’ve seen an increase in injuries on the ATP Tour. Names like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, and Andy Murray have taken temporary leaves from the competitive scene to rest up.

That being said, when there is a rest from the sport, it usually comes with a few unintended consequences. For instance, after Kei Nishikori’s leave, he struggled to find his rhythm yet again. This can be said for Andy Murry and Novak Djokovic as well.

This not only means that some of the former top players won’t have the opportunity to play to the top level they once did for a while, but it will also mean that new players will begin to take their spots during their time of leave.

Hyeong Chung, Kyle Edmund, Alexander Zverev, Borna Coric, and Nick Kyrgios are some of the many that have begun their rise to fame while these veterans have left for temporary breaks from the game. Because of this, the game has slowly transformed to become faster, more agile, and more aggressive, leaving no breathing space for the older players.

While the clay courts might keep balls from going at a speed they should usually go at, you should still expect a more fast-paced tournament. These players aren’t here to not lose. They’re here to win, and in an age where speed means everything, sometimes the older players can’t keep up.

Roger Federer is Skipping

Sure, this doesn’t sound like that big of a deal since Roger Federer’s playstyle is naturally meant to be weaker on clay, considering he’s a serve-and-volley player with a tendency to end points early rather than keep them going.

That doesn’t mean Roger Federer wouldn’t be a threat, though. If it weren’t for Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer would have dominated every single court type singlehandedly. Even if he can’t play the style he would want, Roger has been known to play scrappy and still win.

That being said, Roger Federer leaving leaves almost no opposition to some of the top clay player’s conquest. Even if Rafael Nadal is still on the clay courts, it will be an almost free-for-all for all the clay tournaments, meaning that anything goes for the 2018 season.

Betting Tips For the 2018 Clay Season

If you haven’t heard me say it already, the clay season is completely different from the grass and hard-court season. Some of the top players struggle to make themselves known during this time period and this could prove troubling for any experienced better.

However, with the right tips for betting, you could go on to make the clay season your most profitable season yet. It’s all in how you view the matches and the knowledge you have of the players. Then, clay will no longer be a troubling time but rather, a time of profits.

Look for Natural Clay Court Players

Some players are raised in clay court environments. Names like Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Pablo Carreno Busta have been raised from a young age in clay court facilities. Because of this, they’re more prone to having more experience than others and know more about the court.

However, this doesn’t always apply. Pablo Carreno Busta may have a lot of experience growing up on clay but he still has barely over a 50%-win rate on the court and Juan Martin Del Potro, while still a threat, prefers to play on hard and grass courts.

Most of the time, these players who have grown up in Spain, Argentina, Mexico, and France tend to be stronger when it comes to playing on the clay court

This is because, unlike players from Britain or parts of the U.S., they have played on the clay courts since they were young, making them the top threats this season.

The same goes vice-versa. Players who have grown up playing on the hard and grass courts will have a natural advantage when it comes to those who haven’t. Sure, hard courts are universal in the tennis world but for grass, it’s a whole different spectrum.

Anything Goes

This applies to grass and hard courts as well, but because the usual veterans are out either due to injury or they’ve been just playing shaky, new players will be up to bat for a spot as one of the top players during the season.

This means that there are no restrictions on who can win and who can lose. Because there are new players that have been playing almost spectacular for the past few years and there are also veterans who haven’t been playing to their best ability, this season is going to be a wild ride.

As I’ve stated before, the younger players are faster, more agile, and more aggressive on the court. What they lack in experience they make up for in speed and raw talent. Names like Alexander Zverev and Hyeong Chung are already making names for themselves on the court at their young age.

While the older veterans might know more, they sometimes fail to reach the fitness level that these younger players have. Plus, with nothing on the line, the younger players can go into these tournaments stress-free.

Of course, there is the concern of winning the prize money, but for most players, it’s the experience itself which brings the most fuel to their game. We’ve already seen Borna Coric push Roger Federer to a third set and Hyeong Chung upset Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open. Maybe this year, someone like Zverev could bring Nadal to a match that would rock the tennis world itself.

Look For the Grinders

In tennis, the term “grinder” means someone who can keep the point going for ages on end. No matter what their opponent throws at them, they’ll be able to keep going and keep playing the point till one of them breaks down.

Grinders usually possess heavy topspin on either their forehand or backhand. Both of these are strong parts of a grinder’s game which make them viable threats and this threat only increases once they reach the clay court.

The only surefire way to beat a grinder is to take them down early before they can roll their momentum to the point. However, on clay, a grinder becomes a top contender. Clay courts are a grinder’s paradise.

Here, they can play out points to their full ability since most attackers will struggle to attack them full-on due to slower speeds on the ball. Plus, with grinders being all about movement and their feet, their game synergizes almost perfectly with the clay court.