--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Players who win on a clay surface are…" description: "\"Players who win on a clay surface are those who can control the ball, playing steadily and accurately from the back-court, keeping the ball in play and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg" --- # Players who win on a clay surface are those who can… ![“Players who win on a clay surface are those who can control the ball, playing steadily and accurately from the back-court, keeping the ball in play and moving it around with changes of speed and spin, and resisting the temptation to over-hit.” quote by Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg) > “Players who win on a clay surface are those who can control the ball, playing steadily and accurately from the back-court, keeping the ball in play and moving it around with changes of speed and spin, and resisting the temptation to over-hit.” [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success on clay requires precise ball control, steady play, varied speed and spin, and restraint from over‑hitting. **In simple terms:** Control, steadiness, and restraint win on clay. Key Takeaway Focus on consistent, controlled shots. Themes tennis strategy skill discipline patience Mood determined focused Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - tournament play - practice drills - coaching sessions Key Concepts ball control spin variation tempo management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance control with needed aggression? - When should you vary spin for advantage? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on control can limit aggression when needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I can be a little bit cautious in keeping the ball, playing a safe pass rather than an adventurous one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/sometimes-i-can-be-a-little-bit-cautious-in-keeping-the-ball-playing/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [I practically dedicate my life keeping the ball off the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-drsek/i-practically-dedicate-my-life-keeping-the-ball-off-the-floor/) Alexandra Drsek > [No matter how hard you throw it or what you've got out there, you've just got to find a way to compete. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/no-matter-how-hard-you-throw-it-or-what-you-ve-got-out-there-you-ve/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [I'd say my main quality is keeping the ball and my passing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-guendouzi/i-d-say-my-main-quality-is-keeping-the-ball-and-my-passing/) [Matteo Guendouzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-guendouzi/) > [I'm just passing time before the ball, Playing my guitar, I don't have to be where I don't want to be at all, Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-james-dio/i-m-just-passing-time-before-the-ball-playing-my-guitar-i-don-t-have/) [Ronnie James Dio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-james-dio/) > [For a big man, it's a little different because you don't always have the ball. Not handling the ball and playing pick and roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/for-a-big-man-it-s-a-little-different-because-you-don-t-always-have/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Whether I'm shooting the ball, playing defense, anything I can do to help the team win, that's what I try to do to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/whether-i-m-shooting-the-ball-playing-defense-anything-i-can-do-to/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [I wanted to be a centre back but I was always stepping over the ball and playing one-twos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-van-aanholt/i-wanted-to-be-a-centre-back-but-i-was-always-stepping-over-the-ball/) [Patrick van Aanholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-van-aanholt/) > [So setting up teammates, rebounding, pushing the ball, playing tough on defense, there's many things to basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/so-setting-up-teammates-rebounding-pushing-the-ball-playing-tough-on/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [How you play the game is for college ball. When you're playing for money, winning is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-durocher/how-you-play-the-game-is-for-college-ball-when-you-re-playing-for/) [Leo Durocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-durocher/) > [If we control the ball, they pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-dunphy/if-we-control-the-ball-they-pay/) [Marv Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-dunphy/) > [It's tough to control the ball on the clay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-goffin/it-s-tough-to-control-the-ball-on-the-clay/) [David Goffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-goffin/) > [Because I'm fairly big, I like to use my body. So I'll control the ball, even when there's a player on me, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pogba/because-i-m-fairly-big-i-like-to-use-my-body-so-i-ll-control-the-ball/) [Paul Pogba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pogba/) > [The one who plays this game the best is Iniesta: he knows exactly when to go forward and when to drop back. He picks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-roman-riquelme/the-one-who-plays-this-game-the-best-is-iniesta-he-knows-exactly-when/) [Juan Roman Riquelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-roman-riquelme/) > [If you don't control the ball, you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-thibodeau/if-you-don-t-control-the-ball-you-re-dead/) [Tom Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-thibodeau/) ## More by Rod Laver > [Manners are manners. Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase have no respect. I don't want my kid seeing Nastase play. The demeanor you show on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/manners-are-manners-jimmy-connors-and-ilie-nastase-have-no-respect-i/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [Roger Federer certainly is my claim to be the best of all time - if there is such a thing. With Rafael Nadal not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/roger-federer-certainly-is-my-claim-to-be-the-best-of-all-time-if/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [When you've got your man down, rub him out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/when-you-ve-got-your-man-down-rub-him-out/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [When Hoad and Rosewall were at their best, and I was a youngster, they had no qualms about saying, 'Hey kid, let's go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/when-hoad-and-rosewall-were-at-their-best-and-i-was-a-youngster-they/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [The time your game is most vulnerable is when you're ahead, never let up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/the-time-your-game-is-most-vulnerable-is-when-you-re-ahead-never-let/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [I saw Kyrgios down in Australia. He played some very good tennis, won two or three matches, and has done the same here at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/i-saw-kyrgios-down-in-australia-he-played-some-very-good-tennis-won/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [There's a lot of ingredients go into being a good tennis player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/there-s-a-lot-of-ingredients-go-into-being-a-good-tennis-player/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [Camaraderie builds. We travelled together to Rome, Paris, Wimbledon, the U.S., lots of places. In a way, I miss it right now. My opponents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/camaraderie-builds-we-travelled-together-to-rome-paris-wimbledon-the/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [Each match is a huge effort from a physical point of view. You can only hit so many balls before your elbow or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/each-match-is-a-huge-effort-from-a-physical-point-of-view-you-can/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [Forty years ago, the players were like a travelling circus - we went everywhere together and were pretty good friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/forty-years-ago-the-players-were-like-a-travelling-circus-we-went/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [Staying interested in a match is a lot harder than many people think. Throughout my career, I've always had trouble in the early rounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/staying-interested-in-a-match-is-a-lot-harder-than-many-people-think/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [When you have the opportunity, you strike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/when-you-have-the-opportunity-you-strike/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [I often surprise myself. You can't plan some shots that go in, not unless you're on marijuana, and the only grass I'm partial to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/i-often-surprise-myself-you-can-t-plan-some-shots-that-go-in-not/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [I like to let my racket do the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/i-like-to-let-my-racket-do-the-talking/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) > [The next point - that's all you must think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/the-next-point-that-s-all-you-must-think-about/) [Rod Laver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) [Explore all 32 Rod Laver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Players who win on a clay surface are those who can control the ball, playing steadily and accurately from the back-court, keeping the ball in play and moving it around with changes of speed and spin, and resisting the temptation to over-hit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rod Laver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-those-who-can-control-the-ball/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-those-who-can-control-the-ball/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39c/rod-laver-19420_control_players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-th_163087.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Players who win on a clay surface are those who can control the ball, playing steadily and accurately from…” — Rod Laver", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rod Laver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-laver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Players who win on a clay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-those-who-can-control-the-ball/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-laver/players-who-win-on-a-clay-surface-are-those-who-can-control-the-ball/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```