There is no need for a roof at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, unless it were intended to keep its patrons in the shade. Unfortunately, one constructed to withstand the prevailing conditions in Scotland has been built with its ceiling a little too low to stage international tennis.
Plans for Stirling University to host Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Luxembourg in July have had to be shelved as the roof does not afford the required nine metres clearance at the ends of the net.
There is a distinct sense of disappointment in Scotland — Andy Murray had let it be known that he wanted the tie staged there — but a realisation, too, that for all the progress made in the game, only two indoor courts have been built in the country in the five years that Murray has been a top-ten player.
The chances are that the tie will be played either on Wimbledon’s No 1 Court or, alternatively, at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne; the grass should give Britain an advantage over the Grand Duchy, which has one player, Gilles Müller, representing a real threat.
At the BNP Paribas Open, Rafael Nadal, the 2009 champion, made short work of Rik de Voest, the South African qualifier, dropping only two games en route to the third round. His service speed was often more than 120mph, which augurs well for the season ahead.
Advertisement
“I served really well in the Davis Cup [against Belgium], but here the conditions are completely different,” he said. “I am trying to adjust the serve a little bit, because with the same movement the ball is not going the same like a few days ago.
“I am trying to serve fast most of the time but here the bounces are crazy sometimes and it’s more important to have a good spin than a very fast ball.”