“Clay was definitely not a high priority,” Smith said. “Now, every player who comes through the USTA system will have a very strong grounding in clay-court tennis.”

Statistics show that a foundation on clay can help the top pros. Of the 103 men who have reached the top 10 since the ATP rankings were created, 91 of them grew up on clay, according to playtheclay.com.

Williams sisters Serena and Venus have been a breath of fresh air at the Rome Open but more so for their off court rather than on court antics.

The pair remained on course for a semi-final meeting on Friday by winning their third round encounters on Wednesday.

World number one Serena beat German Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 and will face Maria Kirilenko in the last eight while Venus disposed of 16th seed Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-4 and faces seventh seed Jelena Jankovic next.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — I’m trying to picture this in my mind.

Ivan Lendl playing tennis again — and just for fun.

Is he serious?

“You can be competitive,” the eight-time Grand Slam singles champion was saying the other day from his winter home at the Windsor Club, “and still have fun.”

Yes, I can.

Maybe you can, too.

But can he?