Stefanos Tsitsipas recently gave a controversial take on what he thinks is the best surface to play tennis. The World No. 3’s opinion was met with divided reactions from tennis fans.Stefanos Tsitsipas is currently contesting his first claycourt tournament of the season at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters, where he is the two-time defending champion. He has found some of the best results of his career on clay; he has two clay Masters 1000 titles in addition to two more trophies (in Estoril and Lyon), as well as six other runner-up finishes.In a recent interview with L'Equipe, the 2021 French Open runner-up sang high praises of the red dirt while also noting the limitations of faster courts. Tsitsipas declared that clay is the surface where the “purest form of tennis” is played."When it's super fast you don't construct anything, " Tsitsipas said. "On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Many fans on Twitter seconded Stefanos Tsitsipas' view, and some even used it to back their claim that Rafael Nadal, unarguably the most successful clay-courter of all time, is thus the best tennis player.“That's why Rafael Nadal is the true King of tennis,” one fan remarked.CliqueBait@Clique___Bait@WeAreTennis @lequipe That's why Rafael Nadal is the true King od tennis14@WeAreTennis @lequipe That's why Rafael Nadal is the true King od tennis“It’s true though. having played tennis professionally, you definitely need the most skill to play on clay. on fast courts you can get by with a big serve and one big shot. tsitsipas reached the Aussie open final as well, so he’s not that biased,” another fan observed.VS@VladSte32007010@tedtodorovic @WeAreTennis @lequipe it’s true though. having played tennis professionally, you definitely need the most skill to play on clay. on fast courts you can get by with a big serve and one big shot. tsitsipas reached the Aussie open final as well, so he’s not that biased.@tedtodorovic @WeAreTennis @lequipe it’s true though. having played tennis professionally, you definitely need the most skill to play on clay. on fast courts you can get by with a big serve and one big shot. tsitsipas reached the Aussie open final as well, so he’s not that biased.However, a few admirers of more aggressive tennis opined otherwise, with a few even bashing the two-time Grand Slam finalist for his take.“As usual the guy is spewing some nonsense … try grass next time,” one individual said.Sanguine@SagarikaRamana@WeAreTennis @lequipe As usual the guy is spewing some nonsense … try grass next time@WeAreTennis @lequipe As usual the guy is spewing some nonsense … try grass next timeHere are a few more reactions from fans:Walker 🏳️‍⚧️@rafolejanPerhaps his only good take ever twitter.com/wearetennis/st…We Are Tennis@WeAreTennis"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe)495"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe) https://t.co/q2zUnmgzXpPerhaps his only good take ever twitter.com/wearetennis/st…Kathleen Mellor@KathleenMellor6@WeAreTennis @lequipe It's not often I find myself in agreement with anything that Tsitsipas says, but I agree with him on this occasion.23@WeAreTennis @lequipe It's not often I find myself in agreement with anything that Tsitsipas says, but I agree with him on this occasion.Douglas Adderley@DouglasAdderley@WeAreTennis @lequipe I completely agree. On a super-fast court, players don't construct, instead they react. Clay is the most creative and purest surface in tennis.@WeAreTennis @lequipe I completely agree. On a super-fast court, players don't construct, instead they react. Clay is the most creative and purest surface in tennis.Daniel Marcel@Q_516That’s why Nadal is the best twitter.com/wearetennis/st…We Are Tennis@WeAreTennis"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe)113995"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe) https://t.co/q2zUnmgzXpThat’s why Nadal is the best twitter.com/wearetennis/st…S.S@write2swagatam@WeAreTennis @lequipe Spittin mad facts. Keep spittin Stefanos, full sappot 🫡2@WeAreTennis @lequipe Spittin mad facts. Keep spittin Stefanos, full sappot 🫡tedtodorovic@tedtodorovic@WeAreTennis @lequipe Tennis players and saying their most successful surface is the best surface out the 3 🤣56@WeAreTennis @lequipe Tennis players and saying their most successful surface is the best surface out the 3 🤣dara@xergvv@WeAreTennis @lequipe "pls don't expect too much from me at hc tournaments anymore .. im a clay merchant & henceforth my career is tuned towards that"372@WeAreTennis @lequipe "pls don't expect too much from me at hc tournaments anymore .. im a clay merchant & henceforth my career is tuned towards that"Sannie 🦋🌕🐊🐌🐺@DjokerSAClay is the weakest surface, it hides weaknesses like Tsitsipas mediocre return and neutralise players with real weapons like serve twitter.com/wearetennis/st…We Are Tennis@WeAreTennis"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe)295"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe) https://t.co/q2zUnmgzXpClay is the weakest surface, it hides weaknesses like Tsitsipas mediocre return and neutralise players with real weapons like serve twitter.com/wearetennis/st…Michael@mnoobs22@WeAreTennis @lequipe Facilitates pushers, moon balling and punishes those who play an aggressive style of tennis. Worst surface in the sport20@WeAreTennis @lequipe Facilitates pushers, moon balling and punishes those who play an aggressive style of tennis. Worst surface in the sportJohanne Paquette@EquipePaquette@WeAreTennis @lequipe He clearly didn’t watch the Sinner/Alcaraz or the Hurkacz/Kokkinakis matches in Miami @WeAreTennis @lequipe He clearly didn’t watch the Sinner/Alcaraz or the Hurkacz/Kokkinakis matches in Miami 😱Andrew Atkinson@atkinsonfashoHmmm. I think the exact opposite. Imo, the purest form of tennis is attacking tennis. twitter.com/WeAreTennis/st…We Are Tennis@WeAreTennis"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe)113995"When it's super fast you don't construct anything. On clay, go ahead, find a nice tactic, good angles. The clay is like an artist's canvas, you can paint on it, it's all its beauty. The purest form of tennis is played on red clay."Stefanos Tsitsipas(via @lequipe) https://t.co/q2zUnmgzXpHmmm. I think the exact opposite. Imo, the purest form of tennis is attacking tennis. twitter.com/WeAreTennis/st…Stefanos Tsitsipas keeps his title defense hopes alive at 2023 Monte-Carlo MastersTsitsipas in the two-time Monte-Carlo Masters defending championStefanos Tsitsipas is through to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters. The two-time defending champion received a bye in the opening round of the tournament.In the second round, he faced Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. Their clash was cut short at 4-1 in favor of Tsitsipas after Bonzi was forced to retire, owing to a wrist injury.The 24-year-old Greek now awaits the winner between Chile’s Nicolas Jarry and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament.