They have also supported related areas of labor, contracting out clay mining in the surrounding area, hauling and trucking 10-20 loads of clay and brick per day, and bringing in contractors for large maintenance projects.

WHITEHOUSE: Laying the Foundation for Economic Success, Brick by Brick

The loose surface and different clay characteristics meant the crushed-brick surface required a different game plan, he said.

CNN: Tennis interactive: Why clay is so different

The crushed-brick mixture that constitutes the base of a clay court produces a the highest bounce and most friction of the three surfaces, meaning they have the lowest CPR of all three surface types and are considered as the "slowest".

CNN: Tennis interactive: Why clay is so different