Fernando Verdasco kisses the blue clay in Madrid after beating world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in a huge upset. "I never was in control of the match, I didn't know how to win a point," said Nadal, who is the modern era's "King of Clay." (CNN) -- It's been called "something Smurfs would play on," labeled a danger to players and derided over a lack of consultation.
Madrid's new blue clay courts have been the talk of the tennis world for all the wrong reasons. But is the furore justified?
After all, isn't this the same surface -- just a different color?
It's the nature of sports stars to be hyper-sensitive about their office environment. As one British journalist argued, a malfunctioning computer can waste your morning's work, but a ridge in a tennis court might spell the end of a career.
The sport has undergone some of its most dramatic modernizations in the last two decades. Let's not forget the uproar when Hawk-Eye, the electronic ball tracking system, was introduced in the 1990s.
Madrid's new blue clay court
Blue clay prepared for Madrid Open
Novak Djokovic under the spotlight
Victoria Azarenka targets 2012 success
But if the controversy over the last few weeks has revealed anything about tennis, it's that this is a game where tradition still looms large.
Ion Tiriac's baby
The man behind the blue revolution is Romanian billionaire Ion Tiriac. The former French Open doubles winner and manager to Boris Becker has had a blue bee in his bonnet for a while.
He pioneered the first blue hard courts at his indoor event in Stuttgart -- a lead followed by the Australian and U.S. Opens.
Tiriac argues the color increases the visibility of the yellow ball and points to scientific tests proving the contrast is at least 15% better on blue than red.
The fact it's also the color of Madrid's major sponsor, Spanish insurance giant Mutua Madrilena, has not been lost on his critics.
A court by any other name
But really, it's just a color right? According to Tiriac the blue clay court is made exactly the same way as the red, with bricks ground into tiny fragments and spread over the ground in two different layers.
However, in Madrid these bricks are stripped of their iron oxide (the chemical that provides the original color) and then treated with dye.
Tiriac acknowledges the cost is almost double that of the red clay, but says the extra expense is worth it.
He admits that improving the experience for television viewers watching his $10.6 million tournament was a major factor in the switch.
Players see red
So what's all the fuss about? World No. 2 Rafael Nadal's shock exit in the third round on Thursday has only added fire to players' complaints that the new surface is too slippery.
Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Novak Djokovic of Serbia will be hoping to defend their Wimbledon titles in July -- earning a 4.5% increase in prize money if they do. Singles champions will now receive £1.15 millon ($1.85 million).
Wimbledon stars' pay increase
The Nadal and Djokovic rivalry
Sportsman of the year Novak Djokovic poses next to his likeness on February 9, 2012, at the wax museum in the central Serbian town of Jagodina.
Novak Djokovic's rise
Ivan Ljubicic bows out of the Monte Carlo Masters and leaves the stage of men's professional tennis for the last time at the age of 33.
The career of Ivan Ljubicic
The "King of Clay" -- Nadal has won six of his last seven appearances at the French Open -- was beaten in a three-hour epic by fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
It ended a 22-match winning streak on clay for Nadal that stretched back to 2011, and was his first defeat in 14 meetings with Verdasco.
"I never was in control of the match, I didn't know how to win a point," Nadal told reporters, before suggesting he will not show up next year unless the controversial blue clay surface is changed.
But even before his huge upset, the 25-year-old was critical of the new surface, tweeting: "The history of clay court was on red. It wasn't on blue. Only one person wins -- the owner of the tournament."
A slippery slope?
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic also threatened not to step on Madrid's blue clay again after he lost to Janko Tipsarevic.
The Serbian beat Nadal in last year's final, held on red clay, and he expressed his unhappiness with the new surface even after beating Spanish qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2 3-6 6-2 in his opening match on Tuesday.
"Today I played my first official match on blue clay and I have to admit I was not very happy. Next time I have to bring skates instead of shoes, it was sooo slippery," the 24-year-old said on Facebook.
Likewise, Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovsky tweeted: "After playing a match on blueclay court 6 I can say with full responsibility on my shoulders that it is the worst court of @ATPWorldTour."
In the women's draw, world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka also complained about the slide, telling reporters: "The surface is a bit slippery, but it's the same for all of us."
It's not just the texture of the surface raising eyebrows -- on the most basic level it just looks different.
"Ha! Blue clay.. It looks like something Smurfs would play on," tweeted player Ivo Karlovic, in what has become a catchphrase of the tournament.
But it's not all blue. American star Serena Williams didn't see what all the fuss was about.
"I haven't noticed a difference between the blue and the red clay. I think it's the same, it's just you don't get as dirty," she tweeted.
Technically speaking
According to experts the lack of traction has nothing to do with the color but the implementation of the clay -- which has been playing much faster than usually expected on such a surface.
Alistair McCaw, a performance specialist to tennis stars including Jelena Dokic, has been watching the action close-up in Madrid.
"The problem is not the fact that the color is blue, even though the change from the traditional brown is quite a shock. Let's not forget the Australian Open changing court color from the green to that bright blue! The players had a lot to say about that too," he said on his Facebook page.
"It's that the amount of clay covering the surface is lesser than normal. If you dig your foot into the surface and remove some of the clay, you will notice that the underlying surface is a hard rubber-like mat. When water is sprayed on the surface, it become slippery. This, in my opinion, is what's causing the main problems."
Former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic tested the blue clay at Madrid last year and admitted it did "look a bit slippery."
But the Croatian, who retired last month, didn't believe it was a safety issue. Part of being a pro tennis player is adapting to different surfaces, he said.
And besides, the biggest challenge at Madrid isn't the clay -- it's the altitude. Balls fly faster through thinner air and Madrid is 650 meters above sea level.
"I would say that grass courts and even the hard courts are a lot more dangerous than clay -- any clay," Ljubicic told CNN.
"Regarding adaptation, tennis players face different surfaces on a weekly basis, every clay court is a bit different. I would say that the altitude in Madrid creates bigger problems to players than the color of the court."
Eyes on the prize ... no, the other prize
The issue isn't just about Madrid, of course. The tournament is seen as an important buildup to the real clay-court crown -- the French Open.
Players have argued it's difficult enough adjusting to the conditions in Madrid, without then having to change their game at Roland Garros at the end of the month.
Perhaps most galling for the top players is that they were never consulted over the controversial changes.
"Players should be agreeing to the change -- there should be some value in what they say," Djokovic told reporters.
"I'm not blaming the tournament, it is fighting for its own interests. But the ATP should have done a better job on player rights in protecting what the players want."
Ljubicic added that even when players did raise objections, they were ignored.
"Players were asked at the council meeting if they would support the idea of having blue clay courts. They clearly refused the idea -- only to see that the decision was made anyhow that the surface will be blue," he said.
The ATP has granted permission for a one-year trial of the tournament, and says it'll be taking into account players' feedback.
Judging by the response so far, Tiriac will have a battle on his hands to keep blue in 2013.
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Nadal's shock exit only added fire to complaints the blue clay is too slippery. Even before his defeat, the Spaniard tweeted: "The history of clay court was on red. It wasn't on blue. Only one person wins -- the owner of the tournament."
Novak Djokovic, who beat Nadal in last year's final on red clay, has been an outspoken critic of the surface, saying: "I played my first official match on blue clay and I have to admit I was not very happy. Next time I have to bring skates instead of shoes, it was sooo slippery."
Not all the feedback has been negative. "I think it's the same, it's just you don't get as dirty," Serena Williams tweeted.
Nadal throws his towel -- emblazoned with the logo of sponsor Mutua Madrilena -- into the crowd. Tiriac says improving the experience for television viewers watching his $10.6 million tournament was a major factor in the switch to blue.
Performance specialist Alistair McCaw says the slippery surface isn't due to the color but the implementation. "The amount of clay covering the surface is lesser than normal. If you dig your foot into the surface and remove some of the clay, you will notice that the underlying surface is a hard rubber-like mat," he said.
The blue clay court is made the same way as the red, with bricks ground into tiny fragments and spread over the ground in two different layers. However, in Madrid these bricks are stripped of their iron oxide (the chemical that provides the original color) and then treated with dye.
The tournament is seen as an important buildup to the real clay court crown -- the French Open. Players have argued it's difficult enough adjusting to the conditions in Madrid, without then having to change their game at Roland Garros at the end of the month.
Rafael Nadal ruined Britain's hopes of a home finalist after defeating Andy Murray in the 2011 semis. Both were part of the "Big Four" who helped secure pay increases. Semifinalists will now take home £287,500 ($463,336) -- up 4.5%.
Jo-Wilifried Tsonga of France delivered one of the biggest upsets of the 2011 tournament, knocking out six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Quarterfinalists will now earn £145,000 ($233,720) -- an increase of 5.5%.
Russian third seed Vera Zvonareva suffered a shock third-round exit in last year's against Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova. A similar achievement this year would earn her £33,875 ($54,630) -- an increase of 13.1%.
The pair first met at the 2006 French Open quarterfinals. Nadal won when Djokovic retired with an injury. The Spaniard won the tournament for the second of six times overall.
Djokovic plays up to the cameras after winning his first Wimbledon in 2011, beating Nadal 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 in a final lasting two hours, 28 minutes.
The pitch at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium will be transformed into a tennis court for the Nadal and Djokovic match on July 14. It is hoped more than 80,000 fans will attend, making it the biggest one-off tennis match in history.
Djokovic, seen here signing autographs for fans in Jagodina, is a national hero in Serbia.
Djokovic began what would be an incredible 2011 with a straight-sets win over British fifth seed Andy Murray in the Australian Open final. It was his second triumph in Melbourne.
In July, Djokovic claimed his first Wimbledon title by beating Spanish two-time champion Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 in the final. It was the first of three consecutive grand slam finals against Nadal.
After Djokovic won Wimbledon, tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade to welcome their hero home.
Djokovic's incredible year continued when he claimed 2011's final grand slam, the U.S. Open. Once again it was Nadal who stood in his way, but Djokovic battled to another four-set triumph.
Djokovic fought his way past Nadal in of tennis' greatest finals at the Australian Open last month. He eventually sealed victory in five hours and 53 minutes, the longest final in grand slam history. It was Djokovic's third Australian Open title.
The 24-year-old received recognition of his incredible year last week, when he was named the Laureus Sportmans of the Year for 2011.
ATP chief Brad Drewett (L) and director Zeljiko Franulovic present the Croatian with a special trophy and gift to mark his retirement from tennis. Drewett described Ljubicic as "a true gentleman and ever popular amongst his peers."
Ljubicic and wife Aida (holding their son Leonardo) with Slavica Radic, a fellow Croatian who is the former spouse of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Ljubicic reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world in 2006 -- a year in which he won three ATP titles, including this one in Vienna. "I felt like I was No. 1 because at the time it was impossible to get to (Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal). It is something I am really proud of. I felt like the No. 1 of normal people," he said.
Croatia's team of (L-R) Mario Ancic, Goran Ivanisevic, Ljubicic, Ivo Karlovic hold the Davis Cup trophy aloft for the first and only time so far after defeating Slovakia 3-2 in Bratislava in 2005.
The victorious team parade a replica Davis Cup trophy in the main square in Zagreb.
One of Ljubicic's finest moments on a tennis court came when he and Ancic secured a bronze medal for Croatia at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the men's doubles.
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