From grass to green set, the changing surfaces of tennis courts around the world

Tennis is an immensely popular sport worldwide and has been for many years. However, the best court surface has been a hot topic of debate among courtkeepers and players participating in famous tournaments annually. Interestingly, courts are not standardised for the sport, meaning different tournaments prefer one surface material over another, depending on the location, the time of year, and the climate.

Grass, or lawn courts as they're more commonly known, are found mainly in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. They are deemed a more traditional court and require a lot of specialist upkeep to ensure they meet the playing standard for big tournaments such as Wimbledon.

The type of tennis match varies greatly depending on the court materials. Lawn courts are challenging for players as the lawn gives the balls a fast spring. Players find the grip more difficult depending on the weather and climate. The games are generally fast-paced, requiring players to think quickly and react precisely to win the point.

Over the years, various famous tennis open locations have changed their court materials to adapt to players' and audiences' preferences. One such example is Melbourne Park, where the Australian Open is played annually. Since 2008, all of the courts used during the Australian Open are hard courts with Plexicushion acrylic surfaces. This replaced grass, which had been used at an alternative Australian Open location, and the Rebound Ace surface used from the opening of Melbourne Park.

Grass courts are often used in local clubs because they're less expensive. However, grass courts are less durable, which means they need more maintenance and upkeep. Ensuring the turf is adequately fertilised is vital in maintaining the lawn. With years of experience, research, and development, the Prograss Bio team are experts in the science behind healthy soil. This is why we decided to create a range of products to make growing healthy grass easy and convenient.

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