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Djokovic returns a ball in Madrid yesterday. Alberto Di Lolli/AP/Press Association Images
Upset

'I'll need advice from Chuck Norris to play on this' - Djokovic slams Madrid's blue clay

The Serb came through his second round test with Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver but lashed out at the ATP over the controversial surface.

WORLD NO1 NOVAK Djokovic has been heavily critical of the type of clay used at the Madrid Masters.

The Serb progressed past Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to the third round in Spain but struggled to adapt to the experimental surface and was eager to express his anger afterwards.

“I hit five balls throughout the whole match,” the BBC report him as saying in the post-match press conference, “With everything else, I was just trying to keep the ball in the court.

When you slide on the red clay you have a feeling you can stop and recover from that step. But here, whatever you do, you are always slipping.

“Not a single player – not woman, not man – I didn’t hear anyone say ‘I like blue clay’.

“To me that’s not tennis. Either I come out with football shoes or I invite Chuck Norris to advise me how to play on this court.”

Djokovic is not the first star to complain about the issue and Rafael Nadal has also bemoaned its use.  However, the ATP have reiterated that the clay will be kept for one year before adding that they will take into consideration the feedback of players before deciding on the future.

On Thursday, the top-ranked player is scheduled to take on the winner of Stanislas Wawrinka or Jurgen Melzer in the third round.

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