Why is everyone so Blue?!

Tennis might be the most traditional sport on Earth.  Any modification to the game brings people in the tennis world to an uproar whether it is the best thing since slice bread or not.  For example, the introduction of Hawk Eye, now Shot Spot, brought heavy criticism from many people, one of them being Roger Federer.  Even though this great player might still be a little cold to the idea of Shot Spot, most of those early critics have become fans of the technology.  Now, the red dirt in Madrid has become smurf blue and the players are not very happy, but Papa Smurf,  Ion Ţiriac (tournament owner), is determined to make it work.  Let's take a look at both players (plaintiffs) and owner (defendant) and decide who has the best point.
Court is now in session...

The Plaintiffs (Players)

Most players, especially on the ATP have expressed their distaste with the courts.  Here are the witnesses.

-"...the timing of it is what makes it difficult for the players." Andy Murray

-"It's hard to judge." Novak Djokovic

-"Hitting on the Smurf clay, the bounce is lower and the 2 courts I practiced on were a bit more slippery than usual." Milos Raonic tweet

-"I love all improvements (but this is a mistake.  The players (don't) win nothing.  Tennis doesn't win nothing.  One person wins.  Only the owner of the tournament wins." Rafa Nadal



The Defendant (Owner)

Ion Tiriac is known for pushing the envelope.  Since buying the tournament in 2009, the Romanian billionaire and ex-player, has looked into ways to improve the tournament and deepen his pockets (he's a business man, you can't blame him).  So what is the evidence:

-22% easier to see for players and on-site spectators

-27%-30% easier to see for tv audience

-Investment! Spending more on blue clay than red

-Suppose to have the same properties as red clay


The X-factor
Other pros are supportive of the blue...

-Im pro blue clay. Its a big step forward, an improvement in our sport, a way to grow and push our bounderies to progress!" Twitted Sorona Cirstea

-"I liked it a lot" Fernando Verdasco


The Judgement

Most players are con but some are pro.  Players like comfort and any change will cause some unhappy athletes.  Change is inevitable and without it our sport would still be playing all sets without breakers, line calls would still be all up to human error, and all tournaments would be played on grass.

Let's try out the "Smurf" court, give Papa smurf some slack and hope all the smurfs (players) stop calling Tiriac, Gargamel!  If not, the smurf village will be a very unhappy place!