What is the difference between the playing surfaces of the US and Australian Opens in tennis?
Both the U.S. and Australian Opens are played on asphalt hardcourts. The difference rises from the covering on the courts. Asphalt surfaces need a protective layer to prevent cracking and other weather related problems. Protective layers also improve the performance of the court. At the Australian Open, Rebound Ace is used to coat the surface. The Rebound Ace is most known for it’s large rubber/fiberglass shock pad in the layers. Players, most notably Australian star Leyton Hewitt, have complained that the courts get sticky in hot weather and play too slow. The U.S. open uses the more popular DecoTurf, which uses a more traditional acrylic layer. It too is comprised of rubber, but it’s prepared differently. The courts at the US Open generally play pretty fast.
