By: Lauren Lynch

Photo Credit: Mutua Madrid Open

(November 14, 2011) In 2012, the Mutua Madrid Open will be adding a new mix to the court literally by featuring and trailing new surface, blue clay made by Ion Tiriac.

Two-time titlists Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal do not like the idea of straying from tradition for the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, who historically has used red clay.

Blue clay has never been played on before and Nadal tweeted out, as if to remind his fans of the respected and traditional Wimbledon, “Its a lack of respect for tradition and the history of this area, I hope one day not having to play on blue grass.”

Federer kept his thoughts brief saying that it, “is difficult to talk about right now.”

The players play on blue hard courts like at the upcoming year-end finals at the O2 Arena in London.

Madrid Masters is from May 4-13, 2012 as the tournament before Roland Garros and has not officially announced that the surface will be used. According to AS, Tiriac says that this clay color change will help improve visibility by a good 25 to 30%, however, it is 40 times the price compared to the regular clay.

The ATP gave its approval for a trial run. Tiriac continues to support the concept because of the visibility it would give tennis.

"It looks better, I'm sure. The visibility improved by 25 or 30 percent," Tiriac told Spanish sports paper AS. "We want to give world-class athletes such as Mr. Djokovic, Nadal or Federer the best visibility possible.

"In China, we will be seen by between 300 and 400 million viewers. In many countries, tennis is now the second national sport after football. We have a responsibility to all those viewers."

On the official website for the Madrid masters, is says in English, “Mutua Madrid Open In 2012 We Keep Improving.”