四大满贯中，澳网经历过从草地到硬地的变革，美网先后采用过草地、红土和硬地三种场地类型，法网和温网是仅有的两个从未更换过场地类型的大满贯赛事，温网被誉为草地球场的殿堂，法网是世界上最具传统、最富盛名的红土赛事。
The surface of the Australian Open haschanged from grass to hard court; the US Open surfaces have used grass, clayand hard-court successively; Roland Garros and Wimbledon have never changedtheir court surfaces. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the worldand Roland Garros is the most traditional and renowned clay event.
红土属于“软性球场”，特点是球落地时和地面产生较大的摩擦，球速较慢，弹跳较高，选手不容易打出制胜分，双方容易形成拉锯战。这些特点决定那些具备充沛体能和顽强意志品质的球员，更容易在红土场地上获得好成绩。
Clay court is known as “soft court”. Itslows down the ball and produces a high bounce. It is not easy for players toget winners and see-saw battle can be seen a lot. For this reason, players thatare both physically and mentally strong can have better performance on claycourts.
在鹰眼技术正式引入网球比赛之前，红土一直被视为是最公平的比赛。红土球场表层土质松软，回球在落地后会在地面留下清楚的球印，比赛中，为了检查回球是否出界，裁判经常从裁判椅上下来察看球印。如今，尽管法网已经引入了鹰眼技术，但这项技术只用于电视转播，比赛中仍旧以裁判的判法为准，法网也成为四大满贯中唯一不向球员提供鹰眼挑战机会的赛事。
Before Hawk-Eye system was introduced intennis, clay tournament is seen as the fairest. Clay court has soft surface. Whenthe ball hits the ground, it will leave a clear mark. During the match, the chair-umpireusually leaves his or herchair to see the mark. Even though the Hawk-Eyetechnology has been introduced in Roland Garros, it is for broadcasting only,therefore the umpire’s decision is the only one that matter. Roland Garros isthe only grand slam in which players cannot use the Hawk-Eye system.
红土球场通常可分为四层，从下至上依次为沙砾层、灰渣层、碎石层和粘土层，最底层是沙砾层，用以固定球场，厚度通常在10厘米以上；灰渣层给球场增加缓冲力，起着储存和过滤水分的作用；碎石层为球场提良好的透水性；表层由粘土、细砂和沙子混合而成，厚度大约为3厘米。
Clay courts consist of four layers. Frombottom to top are grit, ash, rubble and clay. Grit in the bottom is used forfastening the court and the thickness of this layer is over 10cm. Ash layer isthe buffer layer, restoring and filtering water. The rubble layer makes themater more permeable. The surface layer consists of clay.
优雅的滑步，巧妙的网前小球，马拉松式的拉锯战……这些在草地和硬地比赛中难得一见的技战术，却是选手在红土比赛中获胜的必备武器。由于红土球场表面容易出现凹凸不平，球落地后可能改变弹跳方向，这对球员的第二反应提出极高的要求，需要球员根据来球迅速做出调整，这也是红土比赛中容易爆出冷门的重要原因。
Elegant sliding, delicate volley or amarathon see-saw battle…these can rarely be seen on grass or hard court. Whileon red clay court, these techniques are necessary for a winner. Due to unevenclay surface, the bouncing direction of the ball can be changed after it hitsthe ground. This demands high responding ability of a player. That is also whywe see so many dark horses on redclay court.
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