Evidence now shows that tennis courts that allow slipping and sliding have fewer injuries. If you play tennis regularly, it is likely that you play on a hard court. In Florida, where my mom lives, the courts are clay which is better tolerated by the seniors that play there. Soccer fields made of grass have fewer injuries and are easier on the body than artificial turf. It has been noted that the same goes for Football. Years of evidence suggest that the physics of playing on hard courts is different than clay and produces more injuries. Growing evidence suggests that clay courts have fewer injuries because they are more slippery, rather than because they are less hard. This may also be the reason for fewer injuries in other sports occurring on natural fields. An interesting blog post has put together a good case for why we are less likely to be injured on a clay court or a court that allows more give or sliding. Check it out below All that slipping and sliding on tennis courts prevents injuries: A biomechanics expert explains how by Anthony Blazevich "Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100% sure it is wrong. I may have to play more on clay than before, but there aren't that many options." So said Rafael Nadal back in 2012 – and several times since – before succumbing to another knee injury in 2018. Rafa's right. Evidence has been available for decades to suggest that players have fewer knee problems if they play on clay courts rather than hard surfaces over their careers. Way back in 1979, German researcher von Salis-Soglio showed that top-ranked tennis players had more leg and back injuries after playing on hard courts than on clay. But that's not because hard courts are hard. It's because they're not slippery enough. Read more