A Surface Steeped in History
Yellow has deep roots in Spanish culture, appearing in the national flag and in the country’s many bullfighting arenas. The Albero at Real Club de Tenis Betis dated back to the club’s beginnings in the 1920s and posed a distinctive challenge for players on tour.
“There’s less sand on the court, which makes it a bit faster overall,” said Frenchman Hugo Gaston after his first experience on the surface two years ago.
“It might take a moment to adjust, but in terms of play it’s quite similar to traditional clay courts,” added Sweden’s Elias Ymer.
“This event is part of the history of Spanish tennis with a great tradition. The tournament is very popular. That makes us proud, but also gives us the drive to keep improving,” explained former tournament director Santiago Pérez Romero.
That drive eventually led to the end of an era. Broadcasters had long complained that the yellow court made the yellow ball hard to follow on television. Rising maintenance costs also played a role in the decision to switch to Europe’s more standard red clay in 2024.
