Why Is Tennis Played On Clay?

Tennis (photo: Florian Heer)

ITF Press Release, May 28, 2025

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has launched a new monthly digital content series designed to unpack the sport’s lesser-known details.

The first episode of ‘Did You Know?’, released during the first week of Roland Garros, looks at one of the explanations as to why tennis is played on clay, and how it became one of the sport’s best loved surfaces.

 

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The new content series presents interesting facts and explanations of the sport’s lesser-known details via short, engaging videos – each under 60 seconds – released monthly across ITF Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

Upcoming topics will explore more of the sport’s quirks and traditions, including the evolution of the scoring system, how tennis court dimensions were established, and many more intriguing questions about the game.

Louise Booth, ITF Executive Director, Digital, said, “Our new digital content series is a key part of our strategy to broaden tennis’ reach and relevance by creating those ‘have you ever wondered’ moments. By delivering short-form storytelling tailored for social platforms, we’re engaging existing fans in fresh, dynamic ways, while also introducing the sport to those less familiar with it. Our aim is to make tennis more discoverable, relatable, and accessible, offering clear insights that help audiences better understand and enjoy the game. Whether you’ve followed tennis for years or are discovering it for the first time, you are sure to enjoy these videos.”