Discussion

Stuck in clay

Why do Americans struggle on the red clay at Roland Garros? ESPN The Magazine's Shaun Assael says they're just too powerful.

Updated: May 29, 2006, 1:36 PM ET
By Shaun Assael | ESPN The Magazine

The clay courts of Roland Garros may mystify American men, who've won the French Open just four times since 1956, but they're no mystery to Dr. Stuart Miller. The chief technical wizard for the International Tennis Federation has analyzed the earthy mix of clay surfaces (a combination of rocks, pebbles, clay, mud and brick) and has developed an interesting explanation for why big-serving Americans flounder at the only Slam played on clay.

Stuart bases his analysis on something called ...

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Wimbledon

Dates: June 26-July 9
Defending champions: Venus Williams, Roger Federer
Coverage: ESPN2
Time difference: Great Britain is 5 hours ahead of ET

Week 2

• Day 13: Federer wins men's title
• Garber: Federer maintains supremecy
• Sheppard: Nadal No. 2, and closing, on grass
• Notebook: Gilbert deal to coach Murray not official ... yet
• Jensen: Federer learned from French Open

• Day 12: Mauresmo wins women's title
• Garber:Mauresmo keeps nerves in check
• Sheppard: Bryans complete career Grand Slam
• Shriver, Fernandez: Mauresmo held up when it mattered
• Men's final preview: Nadal won't be an easy out

• Day 11: Men's semis
• Garber: Flawless Federer
• Sheppard: Don't write off Nadal on grass
• Notebook: Henin-Hardenne doesn't watch women's tennis

• Day 10: Women's semis | Nadal reaches semifinals
• Garber: Mauresmo breaks through
• Garber: Nadal's transition to grass
• Shriver: Two Grand Slam finals in one
• Navratilova loses final Wimbledon match
• Paul Goldstein blog

• Day 9: Men's quarterfinals
• Garber: Baghdatis awaits Nadal-Nieminen winner
• Garber: Navratilova wants one more title
• Sheppard: Bjorkman wins five-set marathon
• Notebook: Women's semifinal previews
• Nestor-Knowles win longest Grand Slam doubles match in history

• Day 8: Women's quarterfinals
• Garber: Belgians meet for third time in '06
• Garber: Mauresmo at home in Wimbledon
• Hawkins: Sharapova not fazed by streaker, Dementieva
• Notebook: Quarterfinal previews

• Day 7: Men | Women
• Garber: Ancic hopes to end Federer's streak
• Sheppard: State of American tennis
• Notebook: Na Li makes history for Chinese
• Week 1 photo gallery

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