Tennis court - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tennis court - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Hard courts
Hard courts, usually made of asphalt, are considered 'medium' surfaces, where fast hard-hitting players have a slight advantage. Hard courts can vary in speed, they are faster than clay but slower than grass courts, which allow the ball to slide. Depending on the amount of sand added to the paint the amount the ball slows down can vary greatly. [6]These courts are considered the most equal for all playing styles. The U.S. Open is played on DecoTurf, an acrylic hard court, while the Australian Open is played on a synthetic hardcourt Plexicushion, having previously used Rebound Ace. The main difference between a synthetic hardcourt and a true hardcourt surface is the level of hardness. When the ball bounces on this surface it is faster than all other surfaces if there is not much sand in the top paint. The amount of sand used in the top paint and the size of the sand also determines the speed—more sand means less speed and larger sand particles will slow the speed of play. The amount of friction can also be altered and more friction will produce a clay court effect, where topspin is magnified. The extra grip and friction will resist the sliding effect of the ball and the resistance will force the ball to change its rotation. The extra grip provided by the surface can resist the movement of the player and can cause injury."