The preliminary rounds of the grass tennis tournament Libema Open in Rosmalen start on Saturday. That also means the work of Ed Hubers and his people is over, after a year of hard work on optimal grass. “Of course I don’t want to reveal the secret,” he says on the center court, “but it’s work, work, work, mow, mow, mow and the right fertilization.”
Venus Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1. She will be the main crowd puller at the tennis tournament in the coming days.
Ed Hubers has been responsible for the maintenance of the courts since the start of the tournament in 1990, together with Johnny van Lokven. “We have the same grass and surface as the famous Wimbledon courses,” says Ed proudly.
The match in Rosmalen is known as one of the biggest preparation tournaments for the second Grand Slam of the year: Wimbledon.
“The whiter the line, the greener the grass.”
Venus Williams has completed her first training matches on the grass of Rosmalen in recent days. When she came off the track, she said it took some getting used to on the grass. “Your feet get dirty in the grass,” she said. Ed knows why. He and his team keep the grass extra wet before the games. “If we don’t do that, the grass will be brown before the tournament starts.”
The competition length of the grass is eight millimetres. Normally, according to Ed, it is mowed with a large mower, but in the days before the competitions with a small one. As a result, the characteristic dark and light bands can be seen. “Moreover, the lines are made extra white, because the whiter the line, the greener the grass,” says Ed with a laugh.
“As long as the ball bounces and doesn’t make any unexpected movements.”
With the hot weather of the coming days, the courts in Rosmalen will suffer even more when played on. Still, Ed doesn’t mind if the turf gradually turns into a barren plain. “As long as the ball bounces and no unexpected movements, bad bouncemakes,” he explains.
“If the track is seriously damaged, he can repair it provisionally. “By wetting some clay and smearing it in the hole, we can remedy the unevenness, but of course it will never be as beautiful as it is now.”
The tournament in Rosmalen starts on Saturday and Sunday with qualifying matches. Then the center court in Rosmalen will not be used yet. The tournament will start on Monday and on Sunday 18 June the finals will be held on the sacred grass of Ed. Immediately after the final, work starts again for him and his team to get the grass courts back in perfect condition for next year’s edition.