Nadal next to slam blue clay

Nadal dispatched former number three Nikolay Davydenko 6-2 6-2 to reach the third round of the Madrid Open on Wednesday before adding his voice to widespread criticism of the new blue clay courts.

Nadal's great rival Novak Djokovic slammed organisers of the Masters event and the ATP after his laboured second-round victory on Tuesday, saying the Manolo Santana show court at the futuristic Magic Box arena was too slippery and complaining that players' concerns were being ignored.

After seeing off Russian Davydenko, Nadal echoed the world number one's gripes and called for the familiar red clay to be reinstated next year. Officials argue that the blue courts make it easier for TV viewers to follow the yellow balls.

"The court is not one that makes you feel comfortable," Nadal, who won back-to-back clay titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona before heading to Madrid, said in an interview with Spanish TV.

"You have to be realistic," added the French Open champion, who will play compatriot and 15th seed Fernando Verdasco on Thursday for a place in Friday's quarter-finals.

"The court is a difficult court, it's very slippery and it makes supporting movements and getting back to defend very tough.

"But the only thing we can do now is turn the page and we are not going to get the red courts back tomorrow so we have to adapt to the blue courts and the conditions as well as possible and hope for a change next year."