Djokovic slams ATP, Madrid Open organizers for 'contentious' blue clay courts

Madrid, May 9(ANI): World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has blasted the Madrid Open organizers and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for preparing contentious blue clay courts, on which according to him, is almost impossible to move on.

Djokovic, who was back in action after a two-week break following his grandfather's demise, accused the organizers of ignoring the players concerns.

"I hit five balls throughout the whole match. Everything else I was just trying to put the ball in the court so I just rely on my serve and getting some points eventually from his unforced errors,' the Sports24 quoted Djokovic, as saying.

"For me that's not tennis. Either I come up with the football shoes or I invite Chuck Norris to advise me on how I should play on this court," he added.

Various players including clay-court king Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have expressed concern about the decision to switch from traditional red clay to blue.

Djokovic reverberated comments from fellow professionals about the courts being slippery and called for a 'serious discussion' once the tournament are over.I know for certain that there are so many players that I talked to these last three or four days that share the same opinion. I take things very seriously regarding the surfaces and regarding our circuit," Djokovic said.

"I think all the players' opinions have to be heard and have to be considered. This tournament and this decision to change to the blue clay is an example of players not being considered and heard and their opinions being ignored so I really hope that this is going to change in the future. I haven't heard a single player, not man or woman, saying they like blue clay," he added. (ANI)