The recipe for success on the most dreaded surface

	Europeans like three-time French Open champ Justine Henin excel on clay because they learned their games on the surface. Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Before we get started, a huge congratulations to my Florida Gators for winning their second straight NCAA men's basketball title. Luckily for me, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's clay-court season kicked off this week down the road from my alma mater in Amelia Island, Fla.

It's less than a two-hour drive from Gainesville, and a contingency of Gators fill the stands each day. There is nothing better than hearing "Go Gators!" while walking to my chair on a changeover!

So here we are at the opening of clay-court season. Most of my fellow American players cringe at the mere mention of those words, knowing we have a long two months ahead of us. The South American and European players are dancing for joy when late April comes around, knowing the next few months are on their turf.

So why do Americans hate clay so much? And what makes a great clay-court player?

One of the most important ingredients of becoming a great clay-courter is not just the dexterity to move well, but the ability to slide. Having this skill can make an enormous difference when playing on the red surface.

There are exceptions to the rule. Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Mary Pierce are players who won French Open titles and numerous clay-court events, yet they weren't natural movers on this surface. But they were such clean strikers of the ball, it didn't seem to matter. They never perfected the art of sliding, as did Aranxta Sánchez-Vicario, Steffi Graf and defending French Open champion Justine Henin.

So many of us Americans grow up on hard courts, where our feet are always set. We're never taught to slide like the Europeans and South Americans, who grow up on the dirt and slide from the time a racket is put into their hands. The movement of sliding to the ball becomes second nature to them, creating an enormous advantage.

Patience is another key component to becoming a successful clay-courter. Because the surface is much slower, not as many winners are hit. Thus, there are longer rallies, and endless side-to-sides, creating a plethora of frustrated Americans.

You must have the fortitude to stay out there for hours, even days if you have to when the conditions get heavier. Tennis balls become the size of grapefruits, creating endless points and making it much more difficult to finish one.

And finally, another weapon in the arsenal of a clay-court specialist is the drop shot. Because it's more difficult to end a point on clay, hitting a drop shot to bring an opponent forward can be money, especially when you're playing someone who isn't comfortable with his or her footing.

"Dirt-ballers" use this shot over and over again, disguising it brilliantly and using it to bring their less-than-agile opponents forward or to jerk them around on the clay. Depending on your opponent's movement, or lack thereof, this creates one of the few opportunities to hit a winner on clay. Patty Schnyder is a great example of someone who uses the drop shot to deadly effect.

Patience, the ability to slide, mental stamina -- three ingredients that comprise the recipe for a great clay-court player. Throw in the aptitude to hit the drop shot, and you've got the combination to become a master. My fellow Americans, we have our work cut out for us, so let's get to it!

Oh, and one last thing before I sign off: "It's great to be a Florida Gator ..."

Half of the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the world, Lisa Raymond writes for SI.com on alternate Fridays.