The Hidden Challenge: How to Keep Tennis Equipment Clean on Clay Courts.

Tennis players at the Olympics are struggling to keep their clothes clean because of the red clay courts. The clay, made from crushed red bricks, stains clothes, especially white socks, making them very difficult to clean.

Some players, like Elina Svitolina, travel with many extra pairs of socks and discard them after the clay court season. They say that even with lots of washing, it's impossible to get the red clay stains out completely.

While some players find the clay charming at first, it quickly becomes a nuisance when it stains their clothes. Many players prefer playing on grass or hard courts because they don't have the same staining problems as clay.

Although there are laundry services available at tournaments, they often can't completely remove the clay stains. Some athletes have resorted to using special powders, baking soda, and vinegar to try and get their clothes clean.

This problem has existed for a long time, with even famous tennis players like Chris Evert struggling to keep their clothes clean on clay courts. Despite the cleaning challenges, the red clay courts remain a unique and challenging aspect of professional tennis.