“It’ll be fun to find out what it’s like to play on a court with mixed surfaces,” Said Federer. “And it ought to be interesting to see who chooses the better tactic.”

19 days and $1.63 million was needed to create the court. The organizers had to lay a brand new surface on the grass side of the court the night before the match after the original turf had failed to cope with the indoor location and fell victim to a plague of worms.

The players were given an extended two minutes during changeovers instead of the usual 90 seconds to change footwear.

Nadal comes from Mallorca and has the home-court advantage. The Spaniard prevailed 7-5 4-6 7-6 (12-10)

“It has been a nice experience, although before the match I thought it would be a disaster because I felt it would be very difficult for me to adapt to the court,” said Nadal. “I have had a good time and that is important. Both of us would like to repeat this experience because, although the match was not a real one, it allowed us to play for points without much tension and to play more relaxed.”

Here’s a clip of the actual match:

Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, played on water on a specially constructed tennis court on top of a swimming pool:

The water-covered court was constructed in the 110-foot swimming pool set in the Gansevoort’s exclusive 22,000-square-foot rooftop retreat. A specialist underwater team took five days to construct two invisible platforms at either end of the pool using a combination of bespoke acrylic sheets and supporting acrylic tubes.

Defending Sony Ericsson Open Champion, Serena Williams, commented: ‘It was a once in a lifetime chance to play tennis on water and it was great to be involved in a true world first. Playing against Rafa was a new challenge, but I think the surface helped to level the playing field – particularly as he volunteered to play at the deep end!’

Rafael Nadal commented: ‘I love playing on all surfaces, but this was different and playing against Serena made it even more special. Playing a game on water was a first for me, and I also liked the setting here in Miami overlooking the ocean since I love the sea.’

In preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, tennis legend, Andre Agassi and the world No. 1, Roger Federer, couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel.Both players are in Dubai to compete in the US$1 million Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, which is the first round of the two-week Dubai Tennis Championships.

article from http://www.burj-al-arab.com/tennis/

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The floating tennis court was a publicity stunt by American Express to promote their Tennis at Tower Bridge event in Potters Fields Park this week.

The court will be lifted from the barge onto a scaffolding platform constructed above the grass in the riverside park.

Monica Seles looks up at the small crowd gathered on the Millennium Bridge

Speaking after today’s game Seles said there had been no clear winner: “It was such a thrill to play with John on a barge on the Thames. I have never done anything even close to this before. I am thinking this was a dream.”

article taken from www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/1070