The LTA mentioned in 2024 there have been about 1,300 clay-courts in Nice Britain. That’s round 5% of the 23,000 complete variety of courts.
In distinction, about 60% of courts in Spain – one of many main nations on the floor – are clay.
The Nationwide Tennis Centre has 4 clay courts, exterior and the governing physique is “forming new partnerships” with clay-court services in Barcelona and Girona, the place younger gamers can go for camps and coaching periods.
British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith has beforehand advised BBC Radio 5 Dwell that sustaining a clay courtroom might be costly for golf equipment – and isn’t helped by the British climate.
British quantity 5 Francesca Jones mentioned there has traditionally been a “slight reluctance” for younger British gamers to journey overseas to clay academies.
That may be a route Murray took, enjoying in junior clay tournaments round Europe from the age of 12 and transferring to Spain’s Sanchez-Casal Academy aged 15.
Draper might not class clay as his favorite floor however he too has had expertise on it from a younger age, telling BBC Sport: “Professionally with the ATP I have never performed hundreds on it.
However after I was youthful, whether or not it was within the UK or overseas, enjoying European occasions, I all the time did nicely on the clay.
“I all the time thought I used to be a participant who might play nicely on all surfaces.”
