A rare indoor red clay tennis court in Ames offers tennis enthusiasts the chance to play on the same surface used at the French Open, completely free of charge.Vitaly Pecharski, who began playing tennis 12 years ago, was inspired to build the court after a friend in Las Vegas constructed a similar court a few years ago."The reason why we wanted to build this court is a friend of mine," Pecharski said. "Another friend of mine in Las Vegas built an outdoor version of this in 2021, right after, kind of as COVID was still shutting down a lot of facilities. And, for the last four, three years or so, I played quite a bit in that red clay, and I fell in love with the field and how it works."Pecharski's passion for the sport led to the creation of the court, which features red clay imported from Germany. "The process and the court itself is exactly the same court and process that is used for a women's professional tournament that happens in Stuttgart," he said. The installation took just under two months, resulting in a surface made of finely crushed brick particles. "It feels like a very fine dust," Pecharski said. "So if you picked it up, the surface is made out of crushed brick. It's a specially crushed kind of baked brick. Then it gets crushed and really pulverized into the size of the particle is one millimeter or less. So it's really, really fine, really small. And it stays this way, too, so it doesn't clump up."Unlike hard courts, which can be tough on joints, the clay surface allows for natural sliding. The facility offers 24/7 access, with users receiving a code via email to enter and use the court. "Usually we have three to six groups every day," Pecharski said. "Our busiest day, we had like a 12-hour stretch of nonstop bookings. People would just come in, start at six in the morning. We have a crew that comes at like 2 a.m."The $1.5 million facility is open to everyone, from professional players to local residents. "Just come. Come and play it," Pecharski said. "Building a court like this and keeping it for yourself, that would be selfish. Swimming in red clay. I don't want to get that dirty. And so it's kind of open for friends, family, and people I never met."Pecharski emphasized the social aspect of tennis."I think tennis is an incredible social sport. I think these days pickleball has picked up quite a bit, too, as a social sport. You know, and the more access people have to facilities that, you know, are open to them and can play the happier."If Roger, Rafa, Andy, Novak, anybody calls, the door is always open, but it's always open for Uncle John from down the street as well," Pecharski said.Learn more about the facility or register to use it on Pecharski's website.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
AMES, Iowa — A rare indoor red clay tennis court in Ames offers tennis enthusiasts the chance to play on the same surface used at the French Open, completely free of charge.
Vitaly Pecharski, who began playing tennis 12 years ago, was inspired to build the court after a friend in Las Vegas constructed a similar court a few years ago.
"The reason why we wanted to build this court is a friend of mine," Pecharski said. "Another friend of mine in Las Vegas built an outdoor version of this in 2021, right after, kind of as COVID was still shutting down a lot of facilities. And, for the last four, three years or so, I played quite a bit in that red clay, and I fell in love with the field and how it works."
Pecharski's passion for the sport led to the creation of the court, which features red clay imported from Germany.
"The process and the court itself is exactly the same court and process that is used for a women's professional tournament that happens in Stuttgart," he said.
The installation took just under two months, resulting in a surface made of finely crushed brick particles.
"It feels like a very fine dust," Pecharski said. "So if you picked it up, the surface is made out of crushed brick. It's a specially crushed kind of baked brick. Then it gets crushed and really pulverized into the size of the particle is one millimeter or less. So it's really, really fine, really small. And it stays this way, too, so it doesn't clump up."
Unlike hard courts, which can be tough on joints, the clay surface allows for natural sliding.
The facility offers 24/7 access, with users receiving a code via email to enter and use the court.
"Usually we have three to six groups every day," Pecharski said. "Our busiest day, we had like a 12-hour stretch of nonstop bookings. People would just come in, start at six in the morning. We have a crew that comes at like 2 a.m."
The $1.5 million facility is open to everyone, from professional players to local residents.
"Just come. Come and play it," Pecharski said. "Building a court like this and keeping it for yourself, that would be selfish. Swimming in red clay. I don't want to get that dirty. And so it's kind of open for friends, family, and people I never met."
Pecharski emphasized the social aspect of tennis.
"I think tennis is an incredible social sport. I think these days pickleball has picked up quite a bit, too, as a social sport. You know, and the more access people have to facilities that, you know, are open to them and can play the happier.
"If Roger, Rafa, Andy, Novak, anybody calls, the door is always open, but it's always open for Uncle John from down the street as well," Pecharski said.
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